NCSE Evolution Education Update for 2009/07/31
Submitted by Peter Burns on Fri, 2009-07-31 15:47.
National Center for Science Education
(by NCSE Deputy Director Glenn Branch)
Dear Friends of NCSE, NCSE's executive director is among the scientists consulted by Nature for their recommendations for summer reading. And the Society for Developmental Biology honors a Supporter of NCSE with its Outstanding Educator Prize.
GENIE'S SUMMER READING The journal Nature (2009; 460: 574-577) asked a number of scientists -- including NCSE's Eugenie C. Scott -- for their recommendations for summer reading. Scott picked Mark Pallen's The Rough Guide to Evolution (Rough Guides, 2009), writing that Pallen "provides a concise summary of what you need to know: a brief history of the idea that all living things share common ancestry, a complete survey of the mechanisms of evolution and a solid summary of how life originated and then adapted through time to a changing planet. He livens up the story with literary, musical and cultural references so that you never feel you are being told to eat your vegetables." She added, "Alas, it is not only non-specialists who don't have a firm grasp of the strength of theory and data supporting the modern understanding of evolution -- many scientists outside the field of evolutionary biology struggle too. This entertaining handbook will bring anyone up to date." For the article in Nature, visit: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v460/n7255/full/460574a.html To buy The Rough Guide to Evolution (and benefit NCSE in the process), visit: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1858289467/nationalcenter02/ For Mark Pallen's blog for his book, visit: http://roughguidetoevolution.blogspot.com/ SEAN B. CARROLL RECEIVES PRIZE FROM SDB NCSE Supporter Sean B. Carroll was awarded the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize for 2009 from the Society for Developmental Biology, at the society's sixty-eighth annual meeting, held July 23-27, 2009, in San Francisco. Carroll, Professor of Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Medical Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, was honored "in recognition of his pioneering role in elucidating the genetic and molecular basis of morphological evolution, and for his exceptional contributions to making scientific advances in this field accessible to both students and the general public." After summarizing Carroll's scientific achievements, the SDB's citation noted that he "has also led a second life, equally successful, as a public educator in the realm of evolution," listing his books From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, The Making of the Fittest, Into the Jungle and Remarkable Creatures. "Indeed," the citation continued, "the philosopher Michael Ruse has opined that if Charles Darwin were alive today, there would be no scientist that he would rather spend an evening with than Sean Carroll." The prize, established in honor of Viktor Hamburger, a preeminent embryologist and developmental neuroscientist of his era, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to developmental biology education. Previous recipients include Robert DeHaan, NCSE Supporter Bruce Alberts, Leon Browder, Lewis Wolpert, Scott Gilbert, and, in 2007, NCSE's executive director Eugenie C. Scott. Founded in 1939, the Society for Developmental Biology seeks to promote the field of developmental biology and to advance our understanding of developmental biology at all levels. For the prize citation (PDF), visit: http://www.sdbonline.org/Awards/Carroll-Hamburger09.pdf Thanks for reading! And as always, be sure to consult NCSE's web site -- http://ncseweb.org -- where you can always find the latest news on evolution education and threats to it. -- Sincerely, Glenn Branch Deputy Director National Center for Science Education, Inc. 420 40th Street, Suite 2 Oakland, CA 94609-2509 510-601-7203 x310 fax: 510-601-7204 800-290-6006 branch@ncseweb.org http://ncseweb.org Eugenie C. Scott's Evolution vs. Creationism -- now in its second edition! http://ncseweb.org/evc Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design Is Wrong for Our Schools http://ncseweb.org/nioc NCSE's work is supported by its members. Join today! http://ncseweb.org/membership
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