NCSE Evolution Education Update for 2009/07/31

(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