Steven Newton, a programs and policy director at the National Center for Science Education, explores the evolution of American creationism and how anti-evolution activities have changed from the Scopes era to the present. Newton will explain creationism's many faces, from dinosaurs-lived-with-humans young earthers to 'intelligent design' advocates to legislators promoting 'academic freedom' legislation. Newton's talk will examine why teaching evolution--and science in general--is so important, and suggest ways for the pro-science community to counter creationist assaults on science education.

A discussion of the answers Miss USA contestants gave when asked for their views on evolution education.

This is a presentation in the
Weekly Sunday Forum
of the
Humanist Community in Silicon Valley

This is the lead-off event of
Eastern Illinois University's
Darwin Day 2012
presented by the Biology Department

Sponsored by
Eastern Illinois University
Darwin Day 2012
presented by the Biology Department

A presentation in the
SkepTalk Speaker Series
sponsored by the
Bay Area Skeptics

A lighthearted if serious presentation for faculty, teachers, and students of ideas about teaching evolution that may help to avoid or at least head off misconceptions and opposition. Dr. Scott will reiterate her lack of belief in evolution, explain why fish did not evolve into amphibians then evolve into reptiles and then evolve into mammals, explain why evolution is like Monopoly, and conclude with "why Dobzhansky was right”.

Sponsored by the
Integrative Biology Seminar Series

Periodically, including 2011, the Florida Assembly and Senate contemplate bills regarding the teaching of evolution. In these proposed bills, teachers are directed to “critically analyze” evolution, or to present the “full range of scientific views of origins”. Like everything else, these bills have a history – and that history shows that bills of this sort are the current manifestations of the old creationism and evolution controversy that has dogged science education for over 100 years.

Open to the general public

Sponsored by the
University of South Florida

Hosted by the
Clinton School of Public Policy

Evolution is an essential part of the biology curriculum, and a similarly-critical part of the Earth sciences curriculum; it is simply not possible to teach good biology or Earth science and omit evolution. But what if there are students who are reluctant to be taught evolution, and (worse) administrators who don’t back their teachers? Dr. Scott will present some useful tips for teachers about handling what shouldn’t be a controversy, but unfortunately is.

Presentation at the
Science Teachers Workshop

Many elements of the modern American creationist movement would be familiar to Darwin, especially the argument from design, which of course was very well known (and well-regarded) by educated people of his time. Young-Earth creationism, on the other hand, would be puzzling to him; Bishop Ussher's 4004 BCE age of the Earth was not considered mainstream Christian theology in the late 19th century, though certainly the view had its adherents among clergy. Darwin might have heard of the “scriptural geologists” who promoted a young-Earth view during the 19th century, but like other scientists of his time, he would have ignored them. The current creationist strategy of disclaiming evolution as weak science would have seemed more familiar to him, given the criticisms of evolution he encountered during his own time.

A presentation in
Transylvania University's
Creative Intelligence Lecture Series

Although Charles Darwin is recognized internationally as the founding father of evolutionary biology and one of the world's most influential scientists, in the creationist world, Darwin's ideas and Darwin as scientist and scholar are routinely denigrated. Three basic themes characterize this demonization: Darwin is presented as an incompetent, or lazy, or plagiarizing scientist; secondly, as the atheist founder of a materialist science (evolution) dedicated to undermining Christianity; and third, as the proponent of toxic social beliefs such as racism. (This would certainly come as a surprise to the quiet Englishman who regularly donated to the American abolition movement, and who almost got himself thrown off the Beagle over an argument with Fitzroy over the evils of slavery). Of course, the actual Darwin contrasts strikingly with these mischaracterizations -- but the mischaracterizations serve to promote an overall anti-evolutionary agenda that survey research has shown has been embraced by a surprisingly large percentage of Americans.

Sponsored by the
Kentucky Section of the
American Institute for Professional Geologists
and the
Kentucky Paleontological Society

A lecture sponsored by the
Biology Department
Saginaw Valley State University

A lecture in the
C.P. Snow Lecture Series
sponsored by Ithaca College

A presentation in the
SkepTalk Speaker Series
sponsored by the
Bay Area Skeptics

This conference celebrates reason, and I suspect the meaning celebrated is one or both of the dictionary’s definitions of reason, as “the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences”, or “sound judgment; good sense.” The intersection of reason and creationism is understandably a small one, when viewed in this manner. But reason is also defined as the basis or cause of something, as when we speak of the reason for doing something. A reason can also be a statement explaining a belief or action. Viewed this way, of course creationists have reasons for their beliefs – but the beliefs rarely have much to do with the other kinds of reason, reflecting empirical evidence and science. Using examples from creation science and intelligent design, I will explore “reason and creationism”.

Creationism usually is considered an American (or North American) controversy, but it is spreading internationally, as conservative Christian missionaries use creationist literature in their missionary activities. Its spread, as one might expect, is also influenced by idiosyncrasies of culture, politics and national pride.

Sponsored by
the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry,
the Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften (GWUP,
and The European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO)

Twenty-two lucky members will raft the Grand Canyon from Marble Canyon to Diamond Creek, experiencing one of the most beautiful and majestic natural features on the planet.

Of course, as Eugenie Scott, NCSE's executive director, will inform the rafters, the whole Colorado plateau was laid down by the receding waters of Noah's Flood about 4,300 years ago, and the Grand Canyon itself was gouged catastrophically in a matter of days. Geologist Steven Newton will present the standard geological history of Grand Canyon to the rafters — and "they can make up their own minds."

NCSE's "Creation/Evolution Grand Canyon Raft Trip" is a wonderful way to learn about the creationism/evolution controversy in a fabulous natural setting.

For more information: 

Click here for more information or email NCSE