|
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE |
June 8, 2011 |
Downloadable photos available at
www.echovermont.org/visitors/photos.html
CREATIONISM IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM?
Thursday, June 16, 6:30-8:30 pm at ECHO’s Café Scientifique
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
BURLINGTON, Vt. — The principles of evolution
inform much of the teaching and research in biology at the
college level. However, some people are strongly opposed to the
teaching of evolution in public schools.
On Thursday, June 16, ECHO Lake Aquarium and
Science Center invites its adult audience to join expert Nick
Gotelli in examining and discussing creationism in the science
classroom. Professor Gotelli is a Community Ecologist in the
Department of Biology at the University of Vermont, where he has
taught ecology and evolution to science majors for the past 20
years. He will be making his presentation and facilitating
discussion at ECHO’s Café Scientifique, a mind expanding,
thought provoking evening for adults at ECHO, where we invite
guests to explore challenging topics with industry experts.
“If the creationists have legitimate,
scientific criticisms of evolution, they should publish them in
legitimate, scientific journals. We welcome such findings, but
to date none have been presented”, says Nick Gotelli.
Does the creationist perspective even merit
discussion in the classroom? Some say it should not be included
in the science classroom because it does not qualify as science.
Others feel that controversial topics should be part of the
school curriculum. So who decides the curriculum in our schools?
Public opinion? School boards? Individual teachers? Does it
matter whether we are talking about public or private
institutions? Colleges versus high schools or elementary
schools? How are such decisions reconciled with the legal
separation of church and state and the freedom of individuals to
pursue their own religious beliefs?
These questions and more will be discussed at
ECHO’s Café Scientifique and, as always, everyone is invited to
join the conversation!
DETAILS: Café Scientifique, Topic #20:
Creationism in the Science Classroom. Free event for 21+ with
cash bar and themed drink; FREE hors d’oeuvres sponsored by VT
Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society.
For more information call (toll-free)
1.877.324.6386 or visit
www.echovermont.org/events/cafesci
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is located at the
Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont’s Burlington
Waterfront. ECHO features 70 live species, more than 100
interactive experiences, changing and permanent exhibits and
seasonal events — all exploring the Ecology, Culture, History,
and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The
2.2 acre Leahy Center environmental campus is also highlighted
by the Lake Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, UVM’s
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake Champlain Navy
Memorial, ECHO’s Eclectic Gift Shop, and ecology-themed Café
managed by Sugarsnap. Open year-round, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day. For more information visit
echovermont.org, call (toll-free) 1.877.324.6386, or write to
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
###
|
1.802.864.1848
