The debate (see below video) between Science Guy Bill Nye and Creation Man Ken Ham was by the book -- presidential style -- complete with opening statements, 30 minute graphic presentations, a five minute rebuttal, and then a five minute counter-rebuttal. All together it spanned about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Like the presidential debate, there was no declared winner; unlike the presidential debate, the speakers knew exactly what they wanted to say, and were given (mostly) ample time to present their arguments in full.

Hurting Bill Nye, besides a somewhat weak opening joke, was the event's location, in Kentucky, where the theory of creationism has a strong following. His applause was noticeable less than that of Ken Ham following his four turns at the podium. Also hurting Nye, in a way, was the massive amount of information supporting his point. Thirty minutes is a lot of time to summarize the bible and 6,000 years of human existence, but it's not even close to enough when explaining the origins of earth's existence and the origins of the universe.

To his credit, Nye is a great speaker and a master of making scientific points in easily digestible ways (hence his time as host of a PBS science show for kids). During his presentation, he chose to illustrate the earth's age by first examining layers of ice (perhaps there was a more interesting example, but a necessary introduction I suppose), then switching into river beds and fossils (yes), while poking holes at creationism's use of the Grand Canyon to satisfy their theory (OK), and then examining the origins of the universe and space (good choice).

But I think he made a mistake in attempting to discredit Noah's boat making skills during the great flood by comparing the feat to a 20th century boat that eventually floundered from poor design (his point being if a team of professionals sometimes struggle to construct a large boat, how could an even smaller group of complete amateurs build one?). Doing so only showed a lack of belief in amazing, against-the-odds individual feats. Those still happen today, whether backed by higher powers or not. Maybe it's highly unlikely that Noah and a small group of families built a wooden boat capable of withstanding the great flood, but it isn't impossible, like the world being just 6,000 years old. Plus, the point made for an easy counter for Ham. Nye definitely lost a few people he was trying to convert with his boat exercise.

Ultimately, it was Nye's mission to make the country a better place by dispelling theories detrimental to the development of the nation's youth, even if some people believed he was detracting from that aim simply by participating in the debate (and thus giving the belief system undue exposure). According to Fox, the Creation Museum's social media site reached record traffic numbers. They also sold DVDs of the event afterwards.

"Nye's appearance will be giving money to organizations who try to subvert the mission Nye has had all his life: science education, particularly of kids," Jerry Coyne, an evolution professor at the University of Chicago, wrote in his blog, according to Fox.

Throughout the days and weeks leading up to the event, Nye remained steadfast in his belief that he was doing the right thing.

"If we accept Mr. Ham's point of view ... that the Bible serves as a science text and he and his followers will interpret that for you, I want you to consider what that means," Nye said at one point in an appeal to the audience members who believed in Ham. "It means that Mr. Ham's word is to be more respected than what you can observe in nature, what you can find in your backyard in Kentucky."

For his part, Ham (whom I did not know was Australian) appeared calm, rational, but boring. It was much more interesting listening to Nye's colorful, indignant responses than Ham clarifying the definitions of science in a rather unclear manner. For a man defending the supernatural and all powerful, he was perhaps a little stale in his arguments (though a smooth public speaker at the same time). It would have been more fun if the energetic Nye was the creationism believer and Ham was the man of science.