"No Dinosaurs in Heaven" is a film that examines the hijacking of science education by religious fundamentalists, threatening the separation of church and state and dangerously undermining scientific literacy. The documentary weaves together two strands: an examination of the problem posed by creationists who earn science education degrees only to advocate anti-scientific beliefs in the classroom; and a visually stunning raft trip down the Grand Canyon with Eugenie Scott, Steve Newton, and Alan Gishlick of NCSE, that debunks creationist explanations for the canyon's formation. These two strands expose the fallacies in the "debate," manufactured by anti-science forces, that creationism is a valid scientific alternative to evolution.

After the film, there will be a question and answer period, moderated by Mr. Newton.

Presentation facilitated by the Healdsburg High School Science Alliance with Rob Lee, Department Chair.

The American antievolution movement is much more vigorous than that in Canada or Europe, but antievolutionism is nonetheless expanding outside of the U.S. The specific enthusiasms of “creation science” and “intelligent design” are American exports, and products of American history and culture. Nonetheless, they have been proved to be remarkably robust colonizers, and are transplanted by conservative Christian missionaries, who are a universal phenomenon. Although primarily a Christian movement, antievolutionism has been seized upon by Islamists as well, and even by a marginal Hindu movement. The relationship between creation science and intelligent design will be explained, and examples of how these movements have challenged the teaching of evolution will be described.

A presentation for the
Owen G. Holmes Lecture Series

In the US, teachers have long been being pressured to eliminate the teaching of evolution or to teach "alternative views" – meaning creationism. Recently, they also are receiving pressure either to not teach global warming, or to teach "alternative views", such as that global warming isn't actually occurring, or that it is not anthropogenic. As with the arguments used by antievolutionists, global warming deniers propose their views in the spirit of “fairness”, or of teaching students critical thinking. The rhetoric and political techniques employed by global warming deniers have remarkable parallels to those employed by antievolutionists.

Talk for the
Glasgow Skeptics

Come meet us in person at this fun family street fair -- music, food, entertainment, crafts, and a parade!

We will have hominin fossils and real live hominins. Also, this is your chance to support NCSE with a purchase of a t-shirt, book, or bumpersticker. And if you have questions, we have resources.