A few news tidbits:

* What's the role of evolution in marine biology? Dr. Louise Mead, NCSE Education Project Director, talks with the folks at The Reef Tank, a popular site for marine biologists, divers, environmentalists, and other water lovers. Splash over to http://www.thereeftank.com/blog/teaching-marine-biology-in-the-classroom/

* More trouble in Louisiana. The Louisiana Science Education Act (signed in 2008) opened the door to creationism in the classroom. Now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is propping the door open. See the charges being leveled by the Louisiana Coalition for Science at: http://ncseweb.org/news/2009/09/more-bad-news-from-louisiana-005081

* Colbert vs. Dawkins! See the theological/biological/ teleological debate/debacle in all its glory. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250617/september-30-2009/richard-dawkins

* New videos on NCSE's YouTube channel spotlight our conversations with Dr. Lawrence S. Lerner, a physicist and nationally recognized expert on state science standards, on a range of topics relating to evolution. Sage thoughts from an educator who knows what he's talking about.
The site: www.youtube.com/NatCen4ScienceEd

* "Darwin's Darkest Hour" debuts Tuesday October 6th at 8 p.m. on PBS (via WGBH). www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/darwin

Teacher treat: check out the 8 session professional development course on evolutionary concepts, teaching methodology, and more. It's pretty thorough:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/

* Pulitzer Prize winner talks "Origin". Professor Jonathan Weiner, Columbia University, tackles "Variation: Chapters 1 and 2 of 'On the Origin of Species'", on Wednesday, October 7, 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Sign up for the free teleconference before October 4th! http://darwinlecture2.eventbrite.com


Yrs.,

rl