The 2005 judicial ruling that intelligent design is creationism, and not constitutional to teach in public school science classes, closed the door on an era in the creation/evolution conflict. But even before the trial, creationists were already preparing their successor strategy. NCSE Projects and Policy Director Josh Rosenau will report on the latest anti-evolution activity, from Texas and Louisiana to Turkey, and on efforts by scientists and citizens to defend evolution.

Creationist attacks on science education have evolved to evade legal rulings and new scientific research for over 85 years. Most recently, a court struck down a school's policy requiring students to learn about "intelligent design" creationism. Since then, a new anti-evolution strategy has become clear in attacks on evolution in Texas science standards, a widely-distributed documentary film argued that evolution was the cause of the Holocaust and other atrocities, and model legislation granting "academic freedom" for teachers to attack evolution has been filed in a dozen states. As creationism has evolved, so have the attacks on climate science. A concerted effort, led since the 1970s by industries opposed to regulation on greenhouse gas emissions, has sought to muddy the clear evidence of scientific consensus that the world is getting hotter and extreme weather events are becoming more extreme, and that human actions are responsible for most of this change. By examining the strikingly similar tactics and rhetoric of both movements, we can identify ways that scientists and other concerned citizens can ensure that accurate science remains in classrooms, and that policymakers appreciate the scientific status of these important issues.

Inherit the Wind is a Rorschach test: the authors intended it as a not-too-thinly-veiled commentary on the repression of freedom of thought of the McCarthy era and its accompanying Communist witch-hunts and Hollywood blacklists. Yet to many, it primarily represents the Scopes trial — even though the differences between the movie and that historic event over the banning of the teaching of evolution are more numerous than the similarities. Join us for a viewing and a discussion: How does Inherit the Wind resonate with issues today such as the teaching of evolution and freedom of thought?

We'll provide the popcorn! Bring your own (non-alcoholic) drinks.

Cosponsored by Bay Area Skeptics.