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Natural History Museum Responds to Evolution Debate Organizations
Around the U.S. Look to Develop Similar Programs
In reaction to the current debate on evolution and creationism,
many U.S. museums and those in the scientific community are expressing a
strong need for an educator's guide to evolution, and are looking into
adapting such a guide created by the Museum of the Earth at the
Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) in Ithaca, NY, affiliated with
Cornell University. Next public seminar on this topic will be offered free
to the public at the Museum on December 15.
Ithaca, NY (PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- In an effort to address
the challenges educators face on the current complicated evolution and
creationism debate, particularly around the issue of "intelligent design",
the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI)
will hold its next volunteer training seminar on December 15, Evolution and
Creationism, An Educator's Guide to Evolution, and organizations around the
U.S. are quickly following suit.
Created and presented by PRI Director, Dr. Warren Allmon, the
seminar was produced in response to a growing concern among museum docents
and volunteers about how to answer questions regarding evolution and
creationism. In addition to the seminar, the third one offered since August
at the Museum of the Earth, the PRI also offers an educator's guide to
evolution on their Web site --www.priweb.org or www.museumoftheearth.org.
The guide, which PRI plans to produce as a book, has received
more than 100 web hits to date and the institution has received more than 70
calls and emails from museums and organizations around the U.S. inquiring
about adapting the guide for their own volunteers and docents.
One such organization looking to adapt the guide is The Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) to better suit the needs of its zoo docents.
Karen Tingley, Curator of Education at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn,
New York, and a member of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is
concerned about the current direction of science education and will be
attending the next seminar in Ithaca.
"Zoos and aquariums, as well as their counterparts at other
informal science institutions, have the unique opportunity to educate people
about the science behind the theory of evolution and how that theory plays
out right before their eyes in the variety of species in our parks. "
Tingley said.
"The WCS education department wants to educate its instructors
and volunteers on how to effectively convey these scientific messages
without juxtaposing them against the religious ideas in creationism or
intelligent design. This class along with adapting Dr. Allmon's Guide for
Docents will hopefully be useful tools that will aid is mission to educate
the public."
The upcoming seminar at PRI and the Museum also comes on the
heels of a recent State of the University speech given by Hunter Rawlings
III, Interim President of Cornell University, with which the PRI is
affiliated. The focus of his speech was on the integrity of the science
taught in American schools and universities and the importance of separating
science from philosophy and religion.
"I am convinced that the political movement seeking to inject
religion into state policy and our schools is serious enough to require our
collective time and attention." Rawlings said.
The seminar will be held on December 15th at 5pm in the Museum
of the Earth classroom and is open to the public. For more information or
directions, please visit www.museumoftheearth.org or to RSVP, please call
607.273.6623 ext. 13 or email e-mail protected from spam bots.
The Paleontological Research Institution exists to increase the
understanding of the history of the Earth and its life. The Institution
conducts and facilitates paleontological research and communicates knowledge
resulting from this research. It houses, curates, and offers specimen
collections and a research library, publishes scholarly and popular
paleontological books and journals, and it promotes education about Earth's
history and paleontology by providing exhibits to the general public and
educational materials and programs to schools and students of all ages and
levels. The PRI opened the Museum of the Earth in 2003 to give the public
access to this learning through exhibits and programs.
Media Contact:
Amy Naim 607-273-6623 ext. 26 or e-mail protected from spam bots
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