SEB Bulletin October 2007
Evolution of Evolution
The EPA Section is currently in the process of attempting to redress the balance of information on so called Intelligent Design entering schools, by developing Evolution resources and workshops for schools. Jeremy Pritchard, who is heading this up, has already run this successful workshop in his university for 6th formers and teachers and presented another at the University of Cork this year. He is piloting new interactive materials at the Association of Science Education (ASE) meeting in January (see below and the EPA Section is also working with the ASPB to internationalise the resource.
You probably forgot to send him a card but the 12th February 2007 was Charles Darwin's Birthday. As part of a programme celebrating his Birthday the film 'A Flock of Dodos' was shown at the University of Birmingham. Over 80 teachers and sixth form students from across the West Midlands came to see the film with financial support form the BBSRC. After the film there was a lively discussion about the issues raised with academics from across a spectrum of Biological and philosophical interest.
The film examines the relationship teaching of evolution and pulls the disguise from intelligent design, revealing it as simply another form of creationism. However, it also concludes that the lack of acceptance of evolutionary explanations by the public, stems in part from the inability of the scientists themselves to communicate the issues in clear and simple language: it is the scientists who are the flock of dodos!
Recent changes in the School Biology curriculum have given give more weight to the teaching of evolution. This was highlighted in the discussion after the film where teachers indicated that they felt that they needed more support and resources to put over these issues. It was apparent from both the film and subsequent discussion that while academics are effective in de-bunking creationist and ID arguments, they often do not provide accessible non-academic explanations that are needed by teachers. It is a sobering thought that in a recent poll, 39% of respondents thought that Intelligent design/creationism provided the best explanation for the development of life on earth. Potentially The 13 and 14 years olds being taught today will be themselves teaching in 10 years time - if their teachers are not properly resourced then the problem of misunderstanding will persist and affect the quality of future scientists.
Overall it was an interesting if somewhat chastening event - we plan to run more in the future and to work with local teachers to develop the resources they badly need.
Jeremy Pritchard, Birmingham
(EPA Deputy Section Sec.)
http://www.flockofdodos.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4648598.stm
Association of Science Education (ASE) Meeting
3 - 5 January 2008, Liverpool
The ASE Meeting is aimed at sciences teachers and trainee science teachers who are looking to upskill themselves and find out new information about teaching practices to assist them with their teaching effectiveness. The SEB is contributing in two ways to the meeting in 2008.
1. TEACHING EVOLUTION Taking a Practical Approach
Friday 4th January 2008, 1400-1500
Speaker: Jeremy Pritchard
There is currently debate as to whether Evolution should be taught alongside Creationism/Intelligent Design. Current misconceptions and problems in understanding evolution can be overcome by taking a different approach.
How complex organisms arise through natural selection will be presented alongside a practical demonstration of a simple-to-use excel programme showing how complexity can easily evolve through mutation plus selection.
2. BIOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD - as part of the NUCLEUS group, SEB is sponsoring Jim Lynch (Forest Research) to contribute to its one-day programme aimed at biology teachers:
Programme - Friday 4th January 2008
ANTIBIOTICS - Production, Uses and Problems
Speaker: Dr Glyn Hobbs (Liverpool John Moores)
Bioenergy - an Opportunity or a Whole New Set of Problems?
Speaker - Professor Jim Lynch (Forest Research)
Bank it, Use it or lose it
Speaker: Dr Paul Smith (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
Celebrity Diets - Fact or Fiction?
Dr Nicola Lowe (University of Central Lancashire)
Conservation Education that Motivates
Speaker: Professor Gordon McGregor (North of England Zoological Society)
Ecology, Carbon and the Carbon Cycle
Dr David Slingsby (British Ecological Society)
The Worldwide Resurgence of Tuberculosis
Dr Lance Turtle (Wellcome Trust)
