At a time when science education in America seems to be under siege, the National Center for Science Education continues to defend the integrity of science education nationwide. The NCSE is committed to providing materials and services that promote unbiased, straightforward, and accurate science education in American schools. We are committed to defending the theory of evolution in the face of attacks and challenges from creationist groups, and have taken many practical steps to do so.
For 30 years now, NCSE has proudly defended its values and belief in the importance of holding our educational system to high standards of teaching factual scientific material. We do much more than just make recommendations or simply observe from a distance. Always at the service of those who request our assistance in defending evolution, we gladly provide informational materials, pamphlets, and even make our speakers available for a range of events and conferences related to advancing public scientific discourse.
Our speakers, particularly our Executive Director Dr. Eugenie Scott, increase the visibility of our organization by being active both through events and public appearances as well as publishing materials on scientific topics. Our most prominent publication, Reports of the National Center for Science Education, addresses current concerns and developments in the teaching of science and evolution. Other useful resources include our Reviews of Creationist Books, Voices for Evolution, along with a host of smaller publications including pamphlets and informational materials about general or specifically requested topics.
NCSE prefers not to get entangled in expensive and time-consuming lawsuits. In order to prevent this from happening, we attempt to resolve challenges to evolution locally by offering expert testimony and recommendations to school board hearings. In fact, 22 local NCSE chapters in 18 different states help decentralize our operations and address local community concerns in a more straightforward manner and personalized approach. In communities where conflicts arise, we aim to promote consensus and understanding among conflicting parties by providing accurate and convincing evidence in favor of science education. Because we are much stronger when we work together, we believe the best way to support evolution is through the collective effort of educators, scientists, parents, and clergy.
If and when a lawsuit does become inevitable, our organization will usually get involved on behalf of the evolution litigants in a case. Our legal advisory panel is a useful resource for parties involved in evolution/creationism lawsuits. We also frequently file amicus curiae briefs to voice our support for the evolution side of a lawsuit.
In order to conduct analyses and evaluate broad attitudes toward evolution and science, the NCSE conducts a number of polls and surveys on a few subjects of interest. These include attitudes toward science, religion, and evolution, which can also be categorized and broken down according to specific respondent categories. The results of our findings are used to assess the general outlook on these subjects, establish patterns and trends, and determine a reasonable course of action based on real data and attitudes.
NCSE’s work is not monolithic—we cooperate with a wide range of other organizations with similar interests in mind. In this way, we transcend boundaries and expand our horizons through networking, consultations, information sharing, speakers, and coordinated action. At the request of any party or organization, we will work in conjunction with them to provide the best means of addressing their needs.
One of our greatest strengths as a scientific organization is our lack of affiliation with any religious belief. We are not atheists—we simply do not espouse any particular religious tradition. Instead, we welcome any and all likeminded individuals supportive of our mission and cause of preserving the integrity of science education in America, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The NCSE awards its annual Friend of Darwin honor to acknowledge and praise the efforts of individuals and organizations devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of scientific and evolutionary thinking. The recipients include scientists, authors, educators, or organizations that have made major contributions to the understanding of evolution and the defense of science in the classroom, the courtroom, or the public arena.
Even if you do not require the NCSE’s assistance in a substantial case, our website can serve as a great informational and educational tool for the average person who is curious about the evolution/creationism controversy. We offer answers to some of the most pressing and brought up questions in the debate, as well as links to several publications and information on obtaining further literature. The concerned student or parent can also turn to our website for hints and warning signs that creationist rhetoric is being introduced into the classroom, as well as tips on forming a course of action.
As you can see, the NCSE operates on a variety of different levels to ensure that creationism and false science does not undermine the quality of education that our students receive, and to increase general understanding of scientific topics. Our members include a variety of distinguished individuals from the fields of science and education, but we welcome both contributions and membership from anyone who believes in maintaining the integrity of science education.
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