NCSE Evolution and Climate Education Update for 2016/09/16
Submitted by Peter Burns on Fri, 2016-09-16 14:26.
National Center for Science Education
(by NCSE Deputy Director Glenn Branch)
Dear friends of NCSE, Kudos for Bruce Alberts. A preview of The War on Science. And creationism figures in a new lawsuit against a chain of charter schools in Arizona.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRUCE ALBERTS NCSE is pleased to congratulate Bruce Alberts on receiving the 2016 Lasker-Koshland Award for Special Achievement in Medical Science. According to a press release from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, which confers the award, Alberts was honored "[f]or fundamental discoveries in DNA replication and protein biochemistry; for visionary leadership in directing national and international scientific organizations to better people's lives; and for passionate dedication to improving education in science and mathematics." Alberts is Chancellor's Leadership Chair in Biochemistry and Biophysics for Science and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. A former president of the National Academy of Sciences and a former editor-in-chief of the journal Science, Alberts is also a member of NCSE's Advisory Council and a recipient of NCSE's Friend of Darwin award in recognition of his support of and advocacy for the integrity of science education, especially influential during his tenure at the National Academy of Sciences. For the press release from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, visit: http://www.laskerfoundation.org/awards/show/discoveries-dna-replication-and-leadership-science-and-education/ A PREVIEW OF THE WAR ON SCIENCE NCSE is pleased to offer a free preview of Shawn Otto's The War on Science (Milkweed Editions, 2016). The preview consists of the first twenty pages of chapter 12, "Battle Plans," discussing ways of defending science; it includes a description of NCSE as "on the front lines of the battle to prevent efforts to change school textbooks to include intelligent design and climate-change denial, and to stop such efforts within schools." Praising The War on Science, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" writes, "Otto makes a case that can't be refuted. Science is important to all of us, especially the US government. He backs it up with peer reviewed studies, carefully researched numbers, and his own extensive experience. He uses the process of science to prove that we need science in order to remain free. Here's hoping all voters everywhere take him seriously -- soon." For the preview of The War on Science (PDF), visit: https://ncse.com/files/pub/evolution/excerpt--war.pdf And for information about the book from its publisher, visit: https://milkweed.org/shop/product/412/the-war-on-science/ CREATIONISM IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST CHARTER SCHOOLS A new lawsuit challenges a chain of public charter schools in Arizona for their religious advocacy -- which reportedly includes creationism. In a September 7, 2016, press release, Americans United for Separation of Church and State explained, "Heritage Academy, which has campuses in Mesa, Queen Creek[,] and Laveen, uses a textbook in its mandatory American government class for seniors that teaches students religious concepts such as creationism, divine judgment after death and the Ten Commandments. The public charter school also teaches religious principles through other class curricula." The complaint contends (p. 18) that the schools use instructional materials that argue that there must be a Creator because the "mind ... will not accept the proposition that the forces of nature, churning about among themselves, would ever produce a watch, or even a lead pencil, let alone the marvelous intricacies of the human eye." Noting that the argument echoes that of Paley's Natural Theology, the complaint cites Kitzmiller v. Dover as "finding that arguments for 'intelligent design' are 'merely a restatement of the Reverend William Paley's argument' -- a religious doctrine that cannot lawfully be taught in public schools." According to the press release, "The plaintiffs in this case are an anonymous parent, who has at least one child attending Heritage Academy, and the Rev. David Felten, head pastor of The Fountains, a United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills, Ariz. The lawsuit, Doe v. Heritage Academy, is being litigated by Americans United Legal Director Richard B. Katskee" -- who helped to litigate Kitzmiller v. Dover and is now a member of NCSE's board of directors -- "and AU Madison Fellow Carmen Green, John Nadolenco and Kristin Silverman of Mayer Brown LLP and Roopali Desai and D. Andy Gaona of Coppersmith Brockelman PLC." For the press release from Americans United, visit: https://au.org/media/press-releases/ariz-public-charter-school-promotes-religion-americans-united-says-in-lawsuit And for the complaint in Doe v. Heritage Academy (PDF), visit: http://au.org/files/legal_docs/Heritage_2016_Complaint.pdf 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: * Ann Reid explaining a change in focus for the blog: https://ncse.com/blog/2016/09/what-youll-be-reading-0018373 * Emily Schoerning reporting on her evolution outreach at the Iowa State Fair: https://ncse.com/blog/2016/09/evolution-at-iowa-state-fair-0018372 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. 1904 Franklin Street, Suite 600 Oakland CA 94612-2922 510-601-7203 fax 510-788-7971 branch@ncse.com http://ncse.com Check out NCSE's 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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