Friday 30 January, 2009
Science Outreach Training Workshop
given by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)
The mission of AIBS is to advance biological research and education for the welfare of society through coalition activities in research, education, and public policy. AIBS also publishes Bioscience, a highly respected journal.
Staffed by professionals with years of experience working with scientists, law-makers, and opinion shapers, the AIBS Public Policy Office provides small-group training programs that help scientists and educators become effective advocates for science. These workshops afford participants the opportunity to interact with the instructor and others in the course.
Participants learn basic skills and knowledge that will help them work productively with policy makers, administrators, news reporters, or the public, as well as a mix of advocacy and media training. Participants receive a tool-kit of quick reference materials (e.g. a Congressional Directory, and the AIBS publication, Communicating Science: A Primer for Working with the Media).
Tuesday 7 April, 2009
Dr. Mario Capecchi,
2007 Nobel Prize Laureate
Dr. Capecchi, of the University of Utah, won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine Award for his pioneering work in molecular genetics. He has become a leading voice in international genetic research.
We are honored to host TWO lectures by Dr. Capecchi:
Afternoon Lecture: “Modeling Human Cancer in the Mouse”
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Jordan 101
Evening Lecture: “The Making of A Scientist: An Unlikely Journey”
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Jordan 101
Please join us for a reception following the 7pm lecture in the Jordan Hall Galleria
Please note new date: Tues, Sept 8, 2009.
Dr. Eugenie Scott,
director of the
Dr. Scott has been at the forefront of science education, gaining attention during the evolution versus intelligent design debate. Trained as an anthropologist, Scott oversees NCSE, which is a central voice for scientists to the public.
We are proud to present TWO lectures by Dr. Scott:
Afternoon Lecture: How to Teach Evolution Better
Time: 4 pm, Tues, Sept 8
Location: Jordan 105
Abstract:
Evolution sometimes is not taught at all at the pre-college level, and when it is taught, it is not always presented accurately. Often, misconceptions of evolution are taught, such as natural selection resulting in perfection of adaptation, or fish evolving into amphibians evolving into reptiles evolving into mammals. Scott argues that if evolution were better taught at the college level, high school teachers (and the general public) will better understand evolution, and do a better job of teaching it to their own students. Common misconceptions will be discussed, and an argument for clearly teaching the "big ideas" of evolution – especially to undergraduates – will be supported.
Evening lecture (for the general public): The Evolution of Creationism
Time: 7pm, Tues, Sept 8
Location: Jordan 105
Abstract:
In the beginning... there was the effort to ban the teaching of evolution, and John T. Scopes is remembered as the teacher whose trial made the creationism/evolution controversy an American icon. But American antievolutionism has expanded and diversified, and it is accurate to describe its evolution as morphological change in response to restrictions of its legal environment. Antievolutionism changed from stressing the Bible as its source of authority to using the imprimatur of science – and we have seen the evolution of creation science and intelligent design. Whither antievolutionism in the future? We predict that creation science and intelligent design will change yet further – in some ways, going back to their roots.