NCSE Evolution and Climate Education Update for 2018/01/26
Submitted by Peter Burns on Fri, 2018-01-26 15:17.
National Center for Science Education
(by NCSE Deputy Director Glenn Branch)
Dear friends of NCSE, The release of Science and Engineering Indicators 2018, with information on public opinion about climate change and evolution. A warning from Florida, a creationism bill in Alabama, and Darwin Day resolutions in Congress -- as well as a reminder about Darwin Day and Evolution Weekend.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INDICATORS 2018 Public opinion about climate change was reviewed in the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators 2018. "Americans are divided on the severity and cause of climate change but concern has returned to previous highs," the report summarized, citing: *** * More than 6 in 10 Americans said they worried a "great deal" (45%) or a "fair amount" (21%) about "global warming." Similar high levels of worry occurred in the early to mid-2000s. * The highest recorded proportion of Americans ever -- more than 6 in 10 -- say they believe that "global warming" is likely caused by humans. * While 7 in 10 Americans recognize that "most" scientists believe warming is due to human activities, fewer than 2 in 10 know that almost all climate scientists attribute warming to human activity. * Fewer than half of Americans think that "global warming" will pose a serious threat during their lifetime. *** For chapter 7 of Science and Engineering Indicators 2018 (PDF), visit: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/assets/404/science-and-technology-public-attitudes-and-understanding.pdf EVOLUTION IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INDICATORS 2018 Public opinion about evolution was reviewed in the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators 2018. In the 2016 General Social Survey, respondents were asked whether "human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals" was true or false; 52% said that it was true. Respondents were also asked whether "the universe began with a big explosion" was true; 39% said that it was true. The report commented, "Both scores are relatively low compared with scores on the other knowledge questions in the survey." Those questions have not been used in the National Science Board's assessment of scientific literacy since 2010, on the grounds that they may measure personal belief rather than scientific knowledge. A sidebar in the 2018 report discusses experimental evidence showing that small changes in wording, including "asking respondents about what scientists believe," substantially affects the answers to such questions. Internationally, the United States was next-to-last for the evolution question, ahead only of Russia in 2003, with 44% of respondents correctly answering; Japan in 2011 did the best, with 78% of respondents correctly answering. The United States was in the middle of the pack for the Big Bang question, with 42% of respondents correctly answering; Canada in 2013 did the best, with 68% correctly answering. Unlike previous editions of Science and Engineering Indicators, the 2018 edition contained no discussion of controversies over teaching evolution. For chapter 7 of Science and Engineering Indicators 2018 (PDF), visit: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/assets/404/science-and-technology-public-attitudes-and-understanding.pdf A WARNING FROM FLORIDA Writing in the Orlando Sentinel (January 19, 2018), Brandon Haught was blunt: "Science education in Florida's public schools is facing an unprecedented assault that started last year and has the high potential to escalate this year. Evolution and climate change are the targets of a coordinated attack as detractors of these concepts seek to balance lessons with some forms of creationism or denial of human-caused climate change." In his column, Haught warned of the effects that a new law that "expands the ability of citizens to challenge public schools instructional materials that they don't like" are already having on science education around the state. Two bills currently under consideration by the legislature, Senate Bill 1644 and House Bill 827, would worsen the situation by allowing citizens to propose their own recommendations for instructional materials. A further pair of bills, Senate Bill 966 and House Bill 825, constitute "a much more direct attack on science education," according to Haught. These bills would allow districts to adopt their own set of science standards, in which "[c]ontroversial theories and concepts must be taught in a factual, objective, and balanced manner." Although no particular theories and concepts are specified, evolution and climate change are likely to be the targets. Haught concluded, "It's important to stand up in support of sound science education. Will you stand with us?" The communications director and a founding board member of the grassroots Florida Citizens for Science, Haught is a public high school science teacher, the author of Going Ape: Florida's Battle over Evolution in the Classroom (University Press of Florida, 2014) and a recipient of NCSE's Friend of Darwin award. For Brandon Haught's column in the Orlando Sentinel, visit: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-science-education-under-attack-in-florida-20180119-story.html For Florida Citizens for Science's website, visit: http://www.flascience.org/wp/ And for NCSE's previous coverage of events in Florida, visit: https://ncse.com/news/florida CREATIONISM BILL IN ALABAMA Alabama's House Bill 258, introduced on January 18, 2018, would, if enacted, allow teachers to present "the theory of creation as presented in the Bible" in any class discussing evolution, "thereby affording students a choice as to which theory to accept." The bill would also ensure that creationist students would not be penalized for answering examination questions in a way reflecting their adherence to creationism, "provided the response is correct according to the instruction received." The bill is evidently modeled on a Kentucky law, Kentucky Revised Statutes 158.177, enacted in 1976 and still on the books despite its patent unconstitutionality. The sole sponsor of House Bill 258, now with the House Committee on Education Policy, is Steve Hurst (R-District 35), a legislator noteworthy for his previous proposals to require public school teachers to read a daily prayer in the classroom and to punish sex offenders with surgical or chemical castration. For the text of Alabama's HB 258, visit: http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/searchableinstruments/2018RS/bills/HB258.htm For the text of KRS 158.177 (PDF), visit: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Statutes/statute.aspx?id=3462 And for NCSE's previous coverage of events in Alabama, visit: https://ncse.com/news/alabama DARWIN DAY RESOLUTIONS IN CONGRESS Darwin Day resolutions have been again introduced in both houses of Congress, according to a January 18, 2018, press release from the American Humanist Association. The resolutions -- House Resolution 699 and Senate Resolution 374 -- would, if passed, express support of designating February 12, 2018, as Darwin Day and recognition of Charles Darwin as "a worthy symbol of scientific advancement on which to focus and around which to build a global celebration of science and humanity intended to promote a common bond among all of Earth's people." The lead sponsor of S. Res. 374, Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) commented, "I am proud to champion and celebrate Charles Darwin's achievements and those of every scientist and explorer who followed in his footsteps." The lead sponsor of H. Res. 699, Jim Himes (D-Connecticut), added, "By celebrating and commemorating the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, we not only acknowledge his enormous contributions to our better understanding of the origins of life, but send a message that we value education, knowledge and science as our guiding principles." "Darwin's work has served as the foundation for generations of spectacular progress across the field of biology, underpinning advances in medicine, agriculture, and conservation," commented NCSE's executive director Ann Reid. "Sadly, efforts to undercut evolution education remain distressingly common. These resolutions underscore the importance of ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity to understand this crucial scientific conceptual framework and the evidence that supports it. I encourage members and friends of NCSE to urge their representatives in Congress to endorse H. Res. 699 and S. Res. 374." For the American Humanist Association's press release, visit: https://americanhumanist.org/press-releases/aha-applauds-reintroduction-darwin-day-resolutions/ And for the text of H. Res. 699 and S. Res. 374, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-resolution/699 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/374 DARWIN DAY APPROACHES It's time to dust off your Darwin costume again: less than three weeks remain before Darwin Day 2018! Colleges and universities, schools, libraries, museums, churches, civic groups, and just plain folks across the country -- and the world -- are preparing to celebrate Darwin Day, on or around February 12, in honor of the life and work of Charles Darwin. These events provide a marvelous opportunity not only to celebrate Darwin's birthday but also to engage in public outreach about science, evolution, and the importance of evolution education -- which is especially needed with assaults on evolution education already under way in state legislatures. NCSE encourages its members and friends to attend, participate in, and even organize Darwin Day events in their own communities. To find a local event, check the websites of local universities and museums and the registry of Darwin Day events maintained by the Darwin Day Celebration website. (And don't forget to register your own event with the Darwin Day Celebration website!) And with Darwin Day comes the return of Evolution Weekend! Hundreds of congregations all over the country and around the world are taking part in Evolution Weekend, February 9-11, 2018, by presenting sermons and discussion groups on the compatibility of faith and science. Michael Zimmerman, the initiator of the project, writes, "Evolution Weekend is an opportunity for serious discussion and reflection on the relationship between religion and science. One important goal is to elevate the quality of the discussion on this critical topic -- to move beyond sound bites. A second critical goal is to demonstrate that religious people from many faiths and locations understand that evolution is sound science and poses no problems for their faith. Finally, as with The Clergy Letter itself, Evolution Weekend makes it clear that those claiming that people must choose between religion and science are creating a false dichotomy." At last count, 182 congregations in forty-two states (and four foreign countries) were scheduled to hold Evolution Weekend events. For the Darwin Day registry, visit: http://darwinday.org/events/ http://darwinday.org/events/community/add For information about Evolution Weekend, visit: http://www.evolutionweekend.org/ 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: 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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