ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Bill Nye on teaching Evolution, from the National Center for Science
Education

BILL NYE ON TEACHING EVOLUTION

Prompted by Michael B. Berkman and Eric Plutzer's recent column in
Science deploring "a pervasive reluctance of teachers to forthrightly
explain evolutionary biology," Popular Mechanics asked Bill Nye for
his reaction. "It's horrible," Nye replied.

He explained, "Science is the key to our future, and if you don't
believe in science, then you're holding everybody back. And it's fine
if you as an adult want to run around pretending or claiming that you
don't believe in evolution, but if we educate a generation of people
who don't believe in science, that's a recipe for disaster. ... The
main idea in all of biology is evolution. To not teach it to our young
people is wrong."

Nye was particularly concerned with the characterization of evolution
as "just a theory," arguing, "People make flu vaccinations that stop
people from getting sick. Farmers raise crops with science; they
hybridize them and make them better with every generation. That's all
evolution. Evolution is a theory, and it's a theory that you can test.
We've tested evolution in many ways. You can't present good evidence
that says evolution is not a fact. "

A Supporter of NCSE, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" was the host of the
popular science education television programs Bill Nye the Science Guy
-- which won eighteen Emmys -- and The Eyes of Nye; he is currently
the executive director of the Planetary Society, the world's large
space interest organization.

For the Popular Mechanics interview of Nye, visit:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/evolution-classroom-bill-nye-science-education

For NCSE's coverage of the Berkman and Plutzer column, visit:
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/too-many-teachers-ignore-evolution-006454


>>
>>
> --
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Martin Weiss, PhD
> Science Interpretation, Consultant
> New York Hall of Science
> mweiss at nyscience.org
> 347-460-1858
>
>


-- 
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Martin Weiss, PhD
Science Interpretation, Consultant
New York Hall of Science
mweiss at nyscience.org
347-460-1858

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]