Allaxys Communications --- Transponder V --- Allaxys Forum 1
Aktuell im WWW => Verschiedenes/ Meldungen aus aller Welt => Topic started by: ama on July 09, 2007, 12:30:37 PM
-
(http://icdarwinday.org/images/I%20heart%20Darwin%202.JPG)
Please make links to
http://icdarwinday.org/images/I%20heart%20Darwin%202.JPG
http://icdarwinday.org/default.aspx
[*QUOTE*]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iowa City
Darwin Day
Celebration
Celebrating Science
through Education,
Inspiration, and
Entertainment. Come
Join the Celebration!
Home
Events
Get Involved
Contact Us
About Us
Links
Win $100!
Donate
Â
Â
ÂTheÂ2nd Annual
Iowa City Darwin Day Celebration
~~An International Recognition of Science & Humanity~~
February 15 & 16, 2008
Iowa City, Iowa
Â
Featuring
ÂMassimo Pigliucci, Ph.D.
A Scientist to be named later
Another Scientist to be named later
Â
DARWIN DAY:Â FOR ONE AND ALL
What is Darwin Day?
Â
Darwin Day celebrates Charles Darwin â “ and all the
great minds throughout history â “ whose explorations
and discoveries have led to a new understanding about
our world and a stable knowledge base with which to
build a global civilization â “ and a lifetime of
excitement and wonder.
Celebrations and festivals honoring Darwin's
contributions have been held at various places and
times over the years including Salem College's
weeklong festival that began in 1980.
Â
Darwin Day was celebratedÂat Stanford
UniversityÂApril 22, 1995. This inspired others to
follow and In subsequent years it has grown to include
hundreds of locations across the globe and the date of
the celebration was changed to coincide with Darwin's
birthday to be held on, or near, February 12 each
year.
Celebrations are an important part of every culture. They provide a
tradition and a common bond to be shared among those who make up
their culture, permitting them to experience a meaningful connection to
one another and to the principles to which they subscribe.
However, where most celebrations are based on ancient traditions that are
relevant to only a specific country or culture, Darwin Day offers an event
that can appeal to one and all providing a global celebration to promote a
common bond among all people.
The Darwin Day Celebration was founded on the premise that science, like
music, is an international language that speaks to all people in very similar
ways.
Darwin Day events range from grand celebrations to educational symposia
â “ office parties, birthday parties, gardening, arts and crafts, fun and
games, and intimate gatherings with friends â “ activities are of all sorts.
Participants represent all walks of lifeâ ”science organizations, academic
societies, activist groups, teachers and students, families and friends. In
Darwin Day, we are able to recognize the diversity among us, while
celebrating our common humanity and the universal understanding we
share.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the benefits that science has brought
to humanity.
Â
All rights reserved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[*/QUOTE*]
.
-
Okay, friends, let's push this into the search-engines. :-)
http://www.iowascience.org
Iowa Citizens for Science
Dedicated to promoting science excellence in Iowa
[*QUOTE*]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vander Plaats update
Published on 26 Oct 2006 at 8:13 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Intelligent design in Iowa, Science education.
I mentioned the situation with Lieutenant Governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats and his support of intelligent design last week (posts
here and here). A group of us have put together an editorial discussing Vander Plaats position and why it matters to Iowa voters (letter
and signatories can be found here at the Iowa Citizens for Science site). Yesterday, a columnist for the Des Moines register also wrote
up the story, and our response to it:
Town and gown are often mutual strangers when it comes to political involvement. But the Iowa governors race this year is
attracting the involvement of university students and faculty over a burgeoning educational issue: whether religion should be taught
as science in public schools.
The issue arises because the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, Bob Vander Plaats, has publicly endorsed the teaching of
intelligent design along with evolution in public schools.
***
A collection of 35 academics, students and others from several Iowa universities have signed and sent a letter to the press
expressing concern about Vander Plaats position.
A professor of religion, Hector Avalos at ISU, organized the letter raising the alarm. Avalos has spoken out against intelligent design
in the past. He collaborated in this effort with a professor of public health. [Well, Hector, myselfthe professor of public
health and others worked on the letter to refine it, but hey&TS] Though the letter is billed as a community response that
doesnt represent the university, a preponderance of signers have the letters Ph.D. beside their names.
***
A governor alone cant change a states school curriculum. The Legislature would have to do that.
The governor could advance, encourage and sign such legislation, however. And of equal concern is what that position says about
the Nussle-Vander Plaats ticket, and whether its extremist.
***
But the academics are right to sound the alarm on this one. When a candidate for the states second-ranking job advocates
subverting the Constitution, it does not inspire faith.
I dont know now if the Register will publish our letter or not (since much of it was discussed/excerpted in this column), but I cant be
too unhappy even if they dontwe managed to get the word out to a larger audience in any case (and were still working to have it
published in other Iowa papers), and hopefully voters will consider the attitude of politicians on all matter of things science-related when
they go to the polls in November.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iowans speak out against Vander Plaats views on Intelligent Design
Published on 23 Oct 2006 at 10:41 am. No Comments.
Filed under Intelligent design in Iowa, Science education.
Dear Editor,
As citizens concerned about the condition of science education in our state and nation, we urge all voters this year to consider how
candidates stand on this issue.
Along with the vast majority of the scientific community, we see Intelligent Design as a faith-based claim that is being misrepresented as
a scientific one. In spite of recent claims by Lieutenant Governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats and the support of the Republican Party
of Iowa ( http://www.iowagop.org/About/Default.aspx?SectionId=239 ), Intelligent Design is not supported by any evidence nor is it a
scientific theory. It certainly is not an acceptable alternative to evolution in a science curriculum. This conclusion also was confirmed in
2005 by a federal ruling, Kitzmiller v. Dover, which clearly states that Intelligent Design is not science and that it is unconstitutional for
schools to declare it a viable alternative to evolution ( http://www2.ncseweb.org/kvd/all_legal/2005-12-20_Kitzmiller_decision.pdf ). It
should be noted that this court case was decided by a Bush-appointed, Republican, Christian judge, and that both Christian clergy and
political conservatives (for example, Conservatives Against Intelligent Design and The Clergy Letter Project) have spoken out against
Intelligent Design. Additionally, the major scientific organizations in the United States, including the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences, have spoken out against its inclusion in science classrooms.
Any effort to inject Intelligent Design as a science idea in schools is detrimental to the integrity of science, to science education, to Iowa
citizens, and to our nations goal to remain preeminent in science.
Accordingly, we urge voters to take seriously the risks of introducing Intelligent Design into the science curriculum, and consider these
risks when deciding whom to support for political office.
Sincerely (note that academic affiliations do not necessarily represent endorsement of these views by the university),
Tara C. Smith, PhD
University of Iowa
Dean Adams, PhD
Iowa State University
Roger Anderson
University of Iowa
Hector Avalos, PhD
Iowa State University
Paul E. Bartelt, PhD
Forest City, Iowa
Lawrence R. Bice, EdD
Dubuque, Iowa
Andrea Bixler, PhD
Dubuque, Iowa
Josef M. Breutzmann, PhD
Waverly, Iowa
Michael Clough, PhD
Iowa State University
Jim Colbert, PhD
Iowa State University
James Demastes, PhD
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Joe Desy, MS
Burlington, Iowa
Lindsay Eaves-Johnson, MA
University of Iowa
Joseph Frankel, PhD
University of Iowa
Cindy Garlock
Cedar Rapids, IA
Steven Green, PhD
University of Iowa
Stephen D. Hendrix, PhD
University of Iowa
Olga Lazareva, PhD
University of Iowa
Jack Lilien, PhD
University of Iowa
John Logsdon, PhD
University of Iowa
Bryant McAllister, PhD
University of Iowa
John R. Menninger, PhD
University of Iowa
Jonathan Mullin
Iowa State University
Joanne Olson, PhD
Iowa State University
Stuart Reeves, PhD, ARCS
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Scott Robinson, PhD
University of Iowa
Jaime Sabel
University of Iowa
Kathleen Sandry
LeClaire, Iowa
Rachel Smith
Iowa State University
John Stamler, MD, PhD
University of Iowa
Christopher Stipp, PhD
University of Iowa
Andrew Wang, PhD
University of Iowa
Jeff Weld, PhD
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Chun-Fang Wu, PhD
University of Iowa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iowa Lieutenant Governor candidate supports intelligent design
Published on 13 Oct 2006 at 2:41 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Intelligent design in Iowa, Science education.
Vander Plaats supports teaching intelligent design
If we are going to teach evolution, there is another viewpoint and one that holds pretty good too (evolution) in regards to
creation, Vander Plaats said. I think that is something that I would want to visit further along with Jim Nussle in regards to
Where are you at on that? But my viewpoint is I would like to give both of these (time in the classroom).
For those of you unfamiliar wth Iowa politics, Jim Nussle is the Republican candidate for governor, opposed by Democrat Chet Culver.
Bob Vander Plaats, as noted, is Nussles running mate.
The question was raised by Rachel Smith, an ISU senior in agricultural biochemistry. Smith later spoke out against the candidates
response, arguing that intelligent design is not a scientific theory.
It may be a theory in the way of being a concept, but it is definitely not a scientific theory, Smith told Vander Plaats.
Evolution is a scientific theory, and it is accepted very, very widely.
Vander Plaats responded that intelligent design is a very real theory that is widely accepted.
So many errors here. Most notably, of course, is that Smith (no relation) is correct: its not a scientific theory, its a half-assed idea
that even ID supporters admit isnt well formulated and aint ready for prime time. And that wide acceptance is a joke; the
Discovery Institutes vaguely-worded, 600-signature document notwithstanding (but how many of them are named Steve?)
I think from an educator point of view, I want to give the theories that have creditability weight in the classroom, he said.
There are some credible evidences on both sides, I think from an educator point of view as well as a full discourse to the students
of Heres how people believe the world came to be.
This educator point of view comes from Vander Plaats experience as a teacher (business, not science) and school principal. And of
course, his appeal to both sides and fairness in the classroom is one that reverberates with a lot of voters, but the fact remains that
theres *is* no credible evidence of intelligent design. Additionally, hes making the common mistake of wrapping evolutionary
theory together with abiogenesis and cosmology when he says that evolution and intelligent design are different ways that people
believe the world came to be.
The article ends with Vander Plaats quote:
I dont see where that can hurt.
Except to mislead Iowas kidsrather a big issue with me, though apparently not to Vander Plaats.
Ironically, if you go to Nussles campaign site, youll see that his plan for achieving world-class education is at the top of his list:
Jim Nussle will energize Iowas education system so our schools are held accountable for results and our students are prepared for
the job opportunities of the 21st Century. To compete in todays global economy; Jim will encourage and entice students and
teachers into the critical fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
And yet his running mate is undermining this, by suggesting that a religious, non-scientific idea be taught alongside evolutionary theory,
the cornerstone of biology. Perhaps Vander Plaats doesnt see the inherent contradiction in this; I dont know. But as a former
principal, youd think hed at least be familiar with what an effort to insert intelligent design into a school curriculum can do to a school
districtlawsuits, division among the community, etc. Just ask Dover, PA.
Finally, to be fair, Vander Plaats does say that hes not discussed his stance on the issue with Nussle, and having only lived here not yet
two years, Im still not that familiar with Nussle himself. However, according to this site, hes received campain money for Discovery
Institute funder Howard Ahmanson Jr., but Ive not seen any statements from Nussle directly addressing the topic. (If anyone out there
knows of any, please, pass them along). Ive also emailed both campaigns to see if they had an official position on the topic, but
havent heard back from those either. Stay tuned&
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[*/QUOTE*]
-
Marke: 2000