[Evolidaho] Fwd: [AIBS-Evolution-l]Evolution education update: July 13, 2007

Sat Jul 14 10:32:27 MDT 2007


----- Original Message -----
From: Holly Menninger <hmenninger at aibs.org>
Date: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:48 am
Subject: [AIBS-Evolution-l]Evolution education update:  July 13, 2007
To: evolution-l at aibs.org

>  From the National Center for Science Education:
>
> Dear Friends of NCSE,
>
> Forrest and Gross take the case against "intelligent design" to the
> biochemists, while Daniel Phelps reviews the Answers in Genesis
> "museum"and NCSE seeks a new logo.
>
> FORREST AND GROSS ON "BIOCHEMISTRY BY DESIGN"
>
> Writing in Trends in Biochemical Sciences (2007; 32 [7]: 322-
> 331), Barbara
> Forrest and Paul R. Gross take the case against "intelligent
> design" to
> biochemists.  Forrest and Gross are the authors of the
> definitive history of
> the "intelligent design" movement's so-called Wedge strategy,
> Creationism'sTrojan Horse:  The Wedge of Intelligent Design
> -- now available in
> paperback (Oxford University Press, 2007) with a new chapter on
> Kitzmillerv. Dover, in which Forrest, a member of NCSE's board
> of directors, was a
> pivotal expert witness for the plaintiffs.  The abstract of
> their article:
>
> ***
>
> Creationists are attempting to use biochemistry to win
> acceptance for their
> doctrine in the public mind and especially in state-funded
> schools.  Biochemist Michael Behe is a major figure in this
> effort.  His
> contention that certain cellular structures and biochemical
> processes --
> bacterial flagella, the blood-clotting cascade and the
> vertebrate immune
> system -- cannot be the products of evolution has generated vigorous
> opposition from fellow scientists, many of whom have refuted Behe's
> claims.  Yet, despite these refutations and a decisive
> defeat in a US
> federal court case, Behe and his associates at the Discovery Institute
> continue to cultivate American supporters.  They are also
> stepping up their
> efforts abroad and, worryingly, have achieved some
> success.  Should
> biochemists (and other scientists) be concerned?  We think
> they should be.
>
> ***
>
> Although Forrest and Gross survey Behe's involvement with
> creationism from
> before his book Darwin's Black Box to the aftermath of the Kitzmiller
> trial, Behe's new book The Edge of Evolution -- which has
> already taken a
> pounding in review after review after review -- is not discussed
> in the
> article.  But Forrest and Gross in effect already saw it on
> the horizon,
> for in their concluding paragraph, they write, "If there is a
> single most
> important lesson for scientists and concerned citizens, it is that
> creationists never give up.  They merely change their
> strategy with each
> defeat, necessitating corresponding adjustments and constant
> vigilance by
> their opponents."
>
> For Forrest and Gross's article (subscription required), visit:
> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09680004
>
> For NCSE's previous coverage of reviews of Behe's book, visit:
> http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/US/291_behe39s_latest_scrutinized_6_12_2007.asp
> http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/US/686_miller_drubs_behe_in_emnatur_6_27_2007.asp
> http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/US/687_dawkins_reviews_behe_in_emth_7_2_2007.asp
>
> For information about Creationism's Trojan Horse, visit:
> http://www.creationismstrojanhorse/
>
> A TRIP TO THE ANTI-MUSEUM
>
> Kentucky Paleontological Society President Daniel Phelps has
> written a
> detailed review of his trip to the Answers in Genesis museum in
> Petersburg,Kentucky.  In "The Anti-Museum:  An
> overview and review of the Answers in
> Genesis Creation Museum," Phelps provides a richly illustrated museum
> walkthrough and reflections from his opening week visit.
>
> Notably, Phelps takes in the planetarium, about which
> comparitively little
> has been written.  He concludes that it "could have passed
> for a good
> planetarium show" if not for the creationism shoehorned
> in.  Phelps
> observes, "Several unusual claims were made, but not explored in much
> detail.  It was almost as if they put together a good show
> and added weird
> stuff to please AIG's leaders."
>
> Phelps notes that despite the museum's slick packaging, the
> dinosaur models
> are not constructed with an eye for accuracy.  In the
> display of Adam
> naming the animals, for example, he observes that the "display also
> included a really poorly reconstructed Iguanadon eating a cycad
> tree model.
> The artist must have read that Iguanadon had pebbly skin texture
> and gave
> him giant platy pebbles unlike what skin impressions really
> reveal about
> this dinosaur. The cycad plant is so bad that it looks like a
> giant pineapple."
>
> For Phelps's review, visit:
> http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/1411_the_antimuseum_an_overview_a_7_6_2007.asp
>
> For the NCSE-sponsored statement of concern about the museum, visit:
> http://sciohost.org/states/
>
> For NCSE's previous coverage of the museum, visit:
> http://www.ncseweb.org/pressroom.asp?state=KY
>
> NEW NCSE LOGO CONTEST
>
> NCSE's board of directors is considering a replacement or re-
> imagining of
> our logo.  Currently, our logo is an abstract symbol (see
> the header on our
> website for an example).  We are inviting our membership
> and other
> interested individuals to submit designs for a new logo for the
> board'sconsideration.
>
> Perhaps the new logo will be a reworking of the original logo;
> perhaps it
> will be a brand-new image.  It could contain NCSE's full
> name National
> Center for Science Education, our initials NCSE, our slogan
> Defending the
> teaching of evolution in the public schools, or some combination
> thereof.  Preferably, a new logo would convey NCSE's
> mission to the world:
> supporting the teaching of evolution.  On the other hand,
> nonrepresentational logos (such as that of the AAAS -- or Coca-
> Cola, for
> all of that) can be striking and memorable.
>
> Be careful using motifs that are misleading, even if suggestive, about
> evolution and related areas of science.  For example, the
> hackneyed image
> of marching hominids is scientifically misleading -- evolution
> is a
> branching process!  Try to avoid images that are overused,
> like dinosaurs;
> skeletons in general evoke the image of death as much as or more than
> evolution, and are thus unsuitable.
>
> If you would like to submit a logo design, e-mail your design to
> logo at ncseweb.org by August 10.
>
> Guidelines:
>
> Don't use copyrighted or trademarked material in your logo! All
> materialmust be original.
> Submit the logo in true vector art (EPS or Adobe Illustrator)
> for scaling
> purposes.
> The logo should look good in both color and black-and-white.
> All submissions become the property of NCSE.  Submissions
> may be modified
> and altered to fit NCSE's needs at its sole discretion. 
> NCSE reserves the
> right not to accept any submission.
> Contest void where prohibited by law.
>
> The lucky -- and obviously talented -- winner will get not only public
> recognition and our praise and gratitude, but also five gift
> subscriptionsto Reports of the NCSE, or an extension of his or
> her subscription for five
> years.  We'll even throw in a coveted NCSE
> "Creationism/Evolution Grand
> Canyon Raft Trip" t-shirt, normally available only to raft trip
> participants.
> Let a thousand flowers bloom!
>
> For the logo contest announcement on-line, visit:
> http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/ZZ/883_new_ncse_logo_contest_7_10_2007.asp
>
>
> Thanks for reading!  And as always, be sure to consult
> NCSE's web site:
> http://www.ncseweb.org
> where you can always find the latest news on evolution education and
> threats to it.
>
>
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