NCSE Evolution and Climate Education Update for 2014/10/17
Submitted by Peter Burns on Fri, 2014-10-17 19:28.
National Center for Science Education
(by NCSE Deputy Director Glenn Branch)
Dear friends of NCSE, NCSE is going to take a few teachers on its Grand Canyon excursion -- and you can help. And a batch of new videos at NCSE's YouTube channel, plus a preview of George Marshall's Don't Even Think About It.
FOR A FEW LUCKY TEACHERS, AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME The National Center for Science Education is pleased to accept applications for its inaugural class of Grand Canyon Teacher Scholars. Lucky teachers will be given an all-expenses-paid seat on NCSE's annual Grand Canyon expedition, an eight-day voyage through some of the world's greatest geological wonders. It's an opportunity of a lifetime, giving deserving teachers a hard-earned vacation and an incomparable learning experience. For over a dozen years, NCSE has chartered a raft trip through Grand Canyon, with staffers Steve Newton and Josh Rosenau currently taking the lead in the unique and tongue-in-cheek "two model" tour of the canyon's geological history. Rafters descend through the strata, considering the hundreds of millions of years revealed on the canyon's walls, and examine how creationists try to explain that same evidence, and why such efforts are doomed to fail. "The Grand Canyon is the best geology classroom in the world," explains Steve Newton, a programs and policy director at NCSE and a geology professor at the College of Marin. "There's no better way to see deep time and explore the processes that shape our Earth than to raft down the Colorado River as it cuts down through the eons, past the Great Unconformity, to rocks almost half the age of the Earth." "Any teacher would be lucky to be chosen for this scholarship," added Rosenau. "Aside from the wonders of the canyon and the inspired presentations Steve and I prepare, the great joy of the NCSE expedition is the mix of scientists, scholars, and brilliant polymaths who join us. The winning teachers will have a chance to learn from a lot of brilliant people, and bringing more teachers into the campfire conversations will enrich all of our experiences." "We all want to find ways to honor the amazing work science teachers do, and I'm glad NCSE has this opportunity," explained NCSE executive director Ann Reid. "It'll be exciting to see all the applicants, and to give everyone a chance to help give teachers this spectacular reward." Teachers are encouraged to apply now (the deadline is January 5, 2015), and anyone interesting in helping teachers have this experience can contribute to the scholarship fund. For the scholarship application, visit: http://ncse.com/about/excursions/teacher-scholarship For the chance to contribution to the scholarship fund, visit: https://ncse.secure.force.com/GCscholarship And for information about NCSE's Grand Canyon excursions, visit: http://ncse.com/about/excursions/gcfaq VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS NCSE is pleased to announce the addition of a further batch of videos to NCSE's YouTube channel. Featured are a promotional video for Climate Smart & Energy Wise, a new book from Mark McCaffrey; Glenn Branch speaking on "After Kitzmiller -- What?" to the Center for Inquiry Los Angeles in 2014; and Eugenie C. Scott speaking on "Playing with Deception" to the Amazing Meeting in Las Vegas in 2014. Plus there's footage of Scott receiving a Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the National Science Teachers Association in Boston in 2014, and a series of archived webinars aimed at broadening and deepening the networks of activists that make NCSE's work possible. Tune in and enjoy! For information about Climate Smart & Energy Wise, visit: http://www.corwin.com/books/Book241767 And for NCSE's YouTube channel, visit: http://www.youtube.com/NatCen4ScienceEd A PREVIEW OF DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT NCSE is pleased to offer a free preview of George Marshall's Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change (Bloomsbury, 2014). The preview consists of chapter 42, "In a Nutshell: Some Personal and Highly Biased Ideas for Digging Our Way Out of This Hole," in which Marshall offers suggestions for action on climate change in light of the book's review of the psychological barriers to accepting the science. Praising Don't Even Think About It, James E. Hansen, the former director of NASA's Goddard Institute and a member of NCSE's Advisory Council, writes, "Illuminating and important -- [Marshall] makes clear why we continue down a dangerous path of increasing climate disruption, even when attractive, hospitable, alternative paths are available." And Bill Nye adds, "Please read this book, and think about it." For the preview of Don't Even Think About It (PDF), visit: http://ncse.com/book-excerpt For information about the book from its publisher, visit: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/dont-even-think-about-it-9781620401330/ WHAT'S NEW FROM THE SCIENCE LEAGUE OF AMERICA Have you been visiting NCSE's blog, The Science League of America, recently? If not, then you've missed: * Josh Rosenau wondering whether Sherlock Holmes was scientifically literate: http://ncse.com/blog/2014/10/what-why-is-science-literacy-0015920 * Stephanie Keep explaining what is and what isn't random about evolution: http://ncse.com/blog/2014/10/misconception-monday-that-is-so-random-part-1-0015910 http://ncse.com/blog/2014/10/misconception-monday-that-is-so-random-part-2-0015912 * Mark McCaffrey applauding the EPA administrator's call for climate science education: http://ncse.com/blog/2014/10/climate-education-denial-101-0015913 And much more besides! For The Science League of America, visit: http://ncse.com/blog Thanks for reading. And don't forget to visit NCSE's website -- http://ncse.com -- where you can always find the latest news on evolution and climate education and threats to them. -- Sincerely, Glenn Branch Deputy Director National Center for Science Education, Inc. 420 40th Street, Suite 2 Oakland, CA 94609-2509 510-601-7203 x303 fax: 510-601-7204 800-290-6006 branch@ncse.com http://ncse.com Check out NCSE's new blog, Science League of America: http://ncse.com/blog Read Reports of the NCSE on-line: http://reports.ncse.com Subscribe to NCSE's free weekly e-newsletter: http://groups.google.com/group/ncse-news NCSE is on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/evolution.ncse http://www.youtube.com/NatCen4ScienceEd http://twitter.com/ncse NCSE's work is supported by its members. Join today! http://ncse.com/join
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