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"Teaching evolution and the nature of science"
The New York Academy of Sciences presented a two-day conference on
"Teaching evolution and the nature of science" in April 2006, aimed
at answering such questions as: What are the basic tenets of the
concept of evolution and how does understanding evolution play an
essential role in comprehending science, and in particular, modern
biology? How can science educators from elementary schools to college
campuses respond to challenges from those who claim that intelligent
design is as valid a theory as evolution? How can we prepare and
support teachers so that they will be able to teach evolution
effectively despite the controversy? How can state and local
officials in charge of education policy respond to attempts by
religious groups and others who seek to change the investigative
nature of science education.
Now the proceedings of the conference
(http://www.nyas.org/ebriefreps/splash.asp?intEbriefID=494) are
available to all, with a mix of text, video, audio, and slides, all
carefully integrated in one on-line resource, divided into three
sections: the nature of science and the evidence for evolution;
pedagogy: a view from the trenches; meeting the challenges:
reconciling evolution and morality. Presenters include Leslie Aiello,
Bruce Alberts, NCSE's Glenn Branch, John F. Haught, Wen-Hsiung Li,
Jennifer Miller, Kenneth R. Miller, Robert T. Pennock, Sydel
Silverman, Gerald Skoog, and Gerald Wheeler. There's a wealth of
useful information throughout: as the writer who summarized the
conference commented, "In an arena that has shaped up to be a
pedagogical struggle for survival, the conference was a triumph for
education."
--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356
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