Mission statement of MnCSE

A scientifically literate population is essential to Minnesota's future. To that end, Minnesota Citizens for Science Education (MnCSE) will bring together the combined resources of teachers, scientists, and citizens to assure, defend, and promote the teaching and learning of evolutionary biology and other sciences in K-12 public school science classrooms, consistent with current scientific knowledge, theories, and practice.

Board of Directors of MnCSE

Mark Borrello  University of Minnesota Twin Cities faculty, history of science
Judy Budreau co-founder, CFO of MnCSE; freelance writer, parent
*Jamie Crannell  high school science teacher, Chaska
Jim Curtsinger  co-founder and CEO of MnCSE; University of Minnesota Twin Cities faculty, biology
Ed Hessler  co-founder of MnCSE; exec. sec. Minnesota Science Teachers Assoc.; Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University
Scott Lanyon  University of Minnesota Twin Cities faculty, biology; Director, Bell Museum
Bruce Leventhal  high school science teacher, Forest Lake
Randy Moore  University of Minnesota Twin Cities faculty, biology
PZ Myers  University of Minnesota Morris faculty, biology
Dawn Norton  high school science teacher, Minnetonka
*Melanie Reap  Associate Professor, College of Education, Winona St. University
Brad Ward  high school science teacher, Forest Lake

*Member, 2003 Minnesota State Science Standards Committee

Directors' Personal statements

Read the personal statements of MnCSE directors and others who support the work of MnCSE

Guiding principles of MnCSE

i) Scientific evidence indicates that the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.

ii) Organisms have evolved under the influence of natural selection and other natural forces.

iii) Scientific explanations of natural phenomena, including the diversity of organisms and their adaptations, do not invoke the supernatural, or address the validity of beliefs about the supernatural.

iv) "Creation science", "Flood Geology", "Intelligent Design", and related ideas are particular religious beliefs, are not scientific, and are not appropriate material for K-12 public school science classrooms.

v) Material presented to students in public school science classrooms should reflect the  consensus of the professional scientific community as reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.


Legal counsel for MnCSE

Briggs & Morgan, Professional Assoc., 2200 IDS Center, Minneapolis

Tax status of MnCSE

MnCSE has received 501c(3) status, which allows receipt of tax-deductible contributions.

The MnCSE Logo

Our logo was designed by Don Luce, graphic artist at the Bell Museum of Natural History. The "Mn" is suggestive of a chemical symbol. The stylized "C" is an ammonite fossil, from an extinct group of molluscs. The stylized "E" is a phylogenetic tree, which is used to illustrate evolutionary relationships among  species or higher taxa. The slight spherical distortion suggests a magnifying glass.