Minnesota News
Science Education Saturday - Teaching Evolution in the Classroom was held November 11, 2006. MnCSE joined with the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences - Twin Cities and the Bell Museum of Natural History to host the event. Photos and a recap are on our Science Education Saturday page. New resources requested by participants, including downloadable lesson plans, are listed on our Educators page.
Randy Moore of the University of Minnesota, and MnCSE board member, spoke at Science Education Saturday on “Creationism in Minnesota’s Biology Classrooms? What the courts have said about the teaching of evolution and creationism” The new book Evolution 101 by Randy Moore and Janice Moore is available now. Greenwood Publishing link and Amazon.com link.
National News
The best source for national news on creationism, evolution, and science education is at the web site of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE).
Francis Collins, frequently mentioned as a future Nobel Prize winner for his work on the Human Genome Project, has published a book entitled The Language of God. In the 2006 book Collins, who describes himself as a conservative Christian, explains how he reconciles his belief in a personal God with his career in science, and suggests that the two areas are complementary rather than in conflict. He soundly rejects ID, and sees instead overwhelming evidence for evolution in the genome studies.
The August 11, 2006 issue of Science contains an article about acceptance and rejection of evoution among the general public in various countries around the world. The USA and Turkey have the lowest rates of accpetance of evolution. The authors attribute this to the influence of fundamentalist religions in both countries, as well as the intentional politicization of the issue. Read more here.
In August 2006, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced the publication of The Evolution Dialogues, an exploration of the relationship between evolutionary science and Christianity. AAAS is the largest organization of professional scientists in the world, and is the publisher of Science magazine. As the prologue notes, "there are deep misunderstandings about what biological evolution is, what science itself is, and what views people of faith, especially Christians, have applied to their interpretations of the science. With this volume, AAAS seeks to correct some of those misunderstandings."
Local news
After 18 years as editor-in-chief of The American Biology Teacher, University of Minnesota faculty member and MnCSE Director Randy Moore has received the highest award given by the American Association of Biology Teachers. In 2006 he also received the Morse-Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education at University of Minnesota. In November 2006, Randy Moore received the 2006 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching State Professor of the Year Award, which recognizes professors for their outstanding commitment to teaching undergraduate students. Read the Minnesota Daily article.
University of Minnesota Morris associate professor of biology and MnCSE Director PZ Myers has been awarded the 2005 Koufax Award for best expert blog for his personal blog, Pharyngula, which is about biology, evolution, and life in Minnesota.
Science News and Views
These blogs, run by scientists, offer up-to-the-minute commentaries and links on current issues.