Evolving in Kansas

Are you following "Darwin, the Reluctant Revolutionary" on NPR?

2009-11-24T17:33:00.000-06:00

Today's broadcast was "At 150, Darwin's 'Origin' Stirs Even More Debate."

You can read transcripts of this year-long radio series or hear podcasts here.

And you can debunk anti-evolution "arguments" 15 ways here.

The case for teaching younger kids about evolution

2009-11-24T13:04:00.001-06:00

Nature's Little Scientists

On the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species, an argument for teaching evolution to younger children.

William West / AFP-Getty Images

Two young children explore a life-size dinosaur puppet at a museum exhibition.
By Mary Carmichael | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 23, 2009

Charles Darwin was famously reluctant to publish On the Origin of Species, which he did 150 years ago this week. Fearing it would degrade people's religious convictions, he stalled on the manuscript for two decades. But he didn't shield his own children from the science he thought would harm adults. Instead, he enlisted them in his experiments. When they were babies, he scrutinized their faces like an anthropologist for his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals; later, he assigned them to "sprinkle bumblebees with flour and chase after the bugs" for a study of cross-pollination, harnessing the children's curiosity as a means of teaching them about nature while also discovering some things about it himself.

What Darwin knew about kids should be obvious to anyone who has one: They make good amateur scientists. "At age 3, 4, 5, 6, all they ask is, 'What's that and where did it come from?' " says Colin Purrington, an evolutionary biologist at Swarthmore College and a father of two. So why, like Darwin the theorist, holding back his book—and unlike Darwin the dad, letting his kids loose in the lab that is the world—are so many parents and teachers loath to give kids straight, scientific answers about natural selection?

[Read more.]

2009-11-23T14:04:00.002-06:00

Interesting article...

Brain-eating tribe could help find treatment for mad cow disease
A cannibalistic tribe in Papua New Guinea, whose members used to eat the brains of dead relatives, provides an example of evolution that could help find a treatment for ‘mad cow’ disease, according to scientists.

By Alastair Jamieson
Published: 11:01AM GMT 19 Nov 2009

The Fore tribe of the Eastern Highlands province of the south-east Asia nation once ritually consumed the brains of dead tribespeople, rapidly spreading a brain affliction similar to ‘mad cow disease’ that threatened to wipe out the population.

Although the ritual was banned in the 1950s, the tribe has undergone a rapid genetic mutation that protects against the condition and has ended the disease.

The chronic wasting disease, called kuru, was caused by prions, the unusual folding of brain proteins that also causes ‘mad cow disease’, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, or CJD.

The research was carried out by Dr Simon Mead of the Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London and colleagues and reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr Mead said further study of the rapid protection that emerged within the tribe could lead to treatments for CJD, which occurs randomly in about one in a million people.

Kuru once wiped out entire generations of women in remote Papuan villages. It was traced to a now-defunct mortuary ceremony in which women and children ate the brains of their dead relatives.

Dr Mead found women in these communities were more likely to live to an old age if they had the protective gene. Women without the gene died young of kuru. "This is just a classical example of evolution in humans," Dr Mead said.

Mead's team studied more than 3,000 Papuans, including 709 who participated in cannibalistic mortuary feasts. They included 152 who died of kuru.

They looked at the genes for prions, ordinary brain proteins that take on a misfolded shape in prion disease such as CJD and kuru. They found a mutation called G127V that protected tribespeople from kuru and which was spread by natural selection.

"It is remarkable how few definite examples there are that we can really link with a clear history of a disease or an event. It was such a devastating disease and well-documented ... and we can now see the effects of this genetically," Dr Mead said.

The mutation prevents misfolded prions attaching themselves to healthy prions, in turn preventing the trigger of the disease. The discovery of the mutation could help researchers identify the point where the misfolded prions attach, providing the location for potential treatments that could inhibit the disease.

"If you could find a drug or a molecule or an antibody that binds to that site, you could interfere with that process," Dr Mead said.

Step away from the sushi.

2009-11-21T16:34:00.001-06:00

Sushi DNA Tests Reveal Fraud

by Aaron Rowe
Wired - November 20, 2009

A biologist walks into a sushi bar and orders some tuna. What does he get? Escolar, a nasty fish with buttery flesh that can cause bizarre episodes of diarrhea, accompanied by a waxy intestinal discharge.

It’s not a joke. It happened five times to the same scientists during a brief research project. The results of that study were published Wednesday in PLOS One.

“A piece of tuna sushi has the potential to be an endangered species, a fraud or a health hazard,” wrote the authors. “All three of these cases were uncovered in this study.”

[Read more.]

KU Student article: "Don't 'believe' in evolution"

2009-11-18T13:17:00.002-06:00

Folmsbee: Don't 'believe' in evolution

By Sai Folmsbee
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Next Tuesday is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s revolutionary book “On the Origin of Species.” This will celebrate 150 years of dynamic scientific research following Darwin’s original theory, improving our understanding of the role of evolution in creating the diversity of life on earth.

It also reflects the concurrent dissatisfaction and controversy that has accompanied Darwin’s theory throughout history. Although many still dispute evolution as either factually incorrect or morally reprehensible for religious reasons, Darwin’s theory of evolution is purely a scientific proposition, entirely exclusive and non-intrusive upon religious ideas.

This month, however, the Christian ministry Living Waters, headed by Ray Comfort, has promised to distribute more than 100,000 “altered” copies of the book to college campuses around the country. Each of these reprinted editions will contain a 50-page introduction promoting intelligent design and refuting the theory of evolution explained by Darwin. This introduction attacks the modern evidence for evolution beyond the scope of Darwin’s investigations, such as genetics and transitional fossils, but then descends into a full-fledged attack on Darwin’s character.

[Read more.]

Video of KCFS/KCAU event Nov. 6 now ONLINE!

2009-11-13T16:48:00.001-06:00

Apparently, someone did a head count and counted 93 people! That's about 20 more than our maximum estimate. Guests included students from Metro, Johnson County and Longview Community Colleges, members of GKCAU, humanists, KCFS members and others.

Thanks to C. J. Janovy of the Pitch, who blogged about our event beforehand, and KCAU's Lynne Schultz for sending out the announcement to her lists.

We enjoyed three great talks that evening by Paul Decelles, professor of biology at JCCC; Josh Rosenau, now a public information director at the National Center for Science Education (http://www.ncseweb.org); and David Burress, retired KU economics professor. Here's where you can enjoy them, too:

Video files and website (http://www.aukc.org) news:

AU's video files of the event are uploaded to their website at http://www.aukc.org/Multimedia.shtml.

There is a link to it from the main navigation menu (http://www.aukc.org).

Even more pix from 10th Anniversary celebration

2009-11-13T13:17:00.001-06:00

Lois and Steve Lopes

Keith and Ruth Miller (Ian was there, too, but where?)

KCFS folk: Chris Haufler, Cheryl Shepherd Adams, Doug Phenix, Matt Buechner, Charlotte McDonald, Kristen (Brumm) Christmas, Jack Krebs

New KCFS Board member Gene Garman from Pittsburg. Long-time defender of church-state separation and author of "America's Real Religion." It's on Amazon.com

Josh Rosenau, now public information director for the National Center for Science Education, was our honored guest.

Harry McDonald presented a special KCFS award to Josh in recognition of his work defending the teaching of mainstream science in public schools. KCFS members Steve Lopes, Jack Krebs and Liz Craig also received awards.

Jeremy Mohn, biology teacher and blogger ("An Evolving Creation"), treated guests to a tune by They Might Be Giants.

Alex is a sociologist/anthropologist from the University of Birmingham in England. He's in Kansas to study our strange brand of politics. He brought his wife and his daughter, Ciara, to the celebration.

A historical display of posters, books, pamphlets, news stories and other memorabilia from KCFS' 10-year journey greeted guests as they arrived at the KU Natural History Museum. In other words, we dug around in our basements and dragged some of our "collections" to the museum. It was fun to see where we've been. A long, strange trip, indeed.

More Pix from 10th Anniversary

2009-11-13T12:53:00.001-06:00

Making the scene

Food was great, courtesy KU catering service. Harry welcomes guests.

Current KBOE members Janet Waugh and Sue Storm, retired KBOE member Bill Wagnon, Cathy Mallula and polar bear.

Attorney Pedro Irigonegaray and Janet

Treasurer Keith Miller (left) reports our bank account is in good shape to start the new year.

Four Presidents - 1999-2009

2009-11-13T11:25:00.000-06:00

Here's a good picture of all four KCFS Presidents at the 10th Anniversary celebration, sent by Steve Lopes. He also sent it to the LJWorld. It may appear in the Society section (Society section???) this weekend. Keep a lookout.

From left to right: Jack Krebs, Liz Craig, current President Harry McDonald, founding President Steve Lopes

Pictures from the Weekend

2009-11-08T20:09:00.010-06:00

Pictures from Saturday. Except for a few cell phone pics, I did not get any Friday evening AU pics so if any one has any I'd appreciate getting copies.

Here are a couple of Josh, Sat afternoon. We spent a couple of delightful hours shooting pictures in the Baker Wetlands in Lawrence.

Digital predator and prey.

Harry at the museum

Jeremy doing his There Be Giants song

Jack, Liz, Harry, Steve

Harry and Liz

2009-11-08T18:16:00.001-06:00

Presidents of KCFS from Left to Right
Jack Krebs, Liz Craig, Harry McDonald
Steve Lopes. 10th Anniversary Nov. 7, 2009

posting pictures

2009-11-08T17:55:00.000-06:00

Hey Mousie,

How do you post pictures?

KCFS: Celebrating 10 Years

2009-11-08T16:24:00.003-06:00

Last night, at the KU Natural History Museum, KCFS members and friends celebrated 10 years of advocacy for sound science education. Food, drink and good fellowship abounded, and after the election of new officers and Board members, President Harry McDonald surprised several long-time Board members with special citations for their contributions over the past decade.

Honored guest Josh Rosenau, former KU grad student and now a public information director for the National Center for Science Education, spoke briefly of the ongoing work to ensure quality science education in U.S. public schools. Other guests included current KBOE members Janet Waugh and Sue Storm and retired KBOE member Bill Wagnon.

Guests enjoyed a song from They Might Be Giants sung by biology teacher and blogger Jeremy Mohn (Stand Up For Real Science blog) as they munched tasty food provided by the KU catering service.

KCFS Board members displayed prized historical possessions, including books by some pro-science friends we have made over the past 10 years, as well as news clippings, posters and other reminders of the long, long road we've traveled since 1999.

Door prizes included a copy of the 1999 "creationist" science standards; the book, "Not in Our Classrooms," co-authored by NCSE's Genie Scott; a copy of Richard Dawkins' book, "The Ancestor's Tale," and perhaps most prized of all, a bumper sticker from legendary folk singer Pete Seeger reading, "Gravity is just a theory."

It was a great evening. Lots of photos were taken, and as I receive them, I'll post them here.

More KCFS photos

2009-11-07T21:19:00.008-06:00

June 2005 - Lawrence KS - Kansas Citizens for Science post "trial" gathering.

The 3 Amigos! - Pedro, Harry, Jack

Last night's event at JCCC

2009-11-07T12:33:00.002-06:00

The speaker event (see press release below) was a smash hit! The room at JCCC was supposed to hold 75 people, but before the program started, volunteers had to bring out more chairs. Moderator Harry McDonald estimated there were about 90 people there.

The crowd was respectful and seemed very interested in the topics. Paul Decelles, professor of biology at JCCC (photo at left), explained some common myths about science; Josh Rosenau, public information person from the National Center for Science Education (www.ncseweb.org), described the evolution of anti-science activities; and retired KU economics professor David Burress gave a breakdown of different population groups that favor or oppose science.

Thanks to everyone who helped get the word out and everyone who attended. It was a fascinating evening.

KCFS' next event, on December 3 at JCCC, which is billed as a Year of Science event, (http://www.yearofscience2009.org/home/), will be a kind of scientific game show loosely based on "Family Feud." More details as I get them.

KCFS photos from the 2005 KSBOE trial of Darwin

2009-11-07T12:20:00.015-06:00

Snapshots from the 'post game analysis' session led by the Kansas Citizens for Science (KCFS) after the KSBOE "trial" of Darwin in May 2005. State Capitol, Topeka, KS.

Note Josh Rosenau (with two name tags), then a grad student at KU, now with NCSE.

Attorney Pedro Irogonegary
Who questioned ID proponents during the "Kangaroo Kourt."

Below: KCFS press briefings during the Kangaroo Kourt proceedings. Harry McDonald, standing.

Tonight at JCCC -- KCFS/KCAU event! Free!

2009-11-06T11:54:00.000-06:00

JCCC speaker event Nov. 6 celebrates 150th anniversary of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"

NEWS RELEASE -- FOR RELEASE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Contact: Liz Craig (KCFS) Lynne H. Schulze (AU)

Phone: 913-236-7595 913-633-2479

Email: lizard6849@yahoo.com lynnehs@gmail.com

In recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Kansas Citizens for Science present:

150 Years On, What’s All The Fuss About Evolution, Science Education and Church and State?

Date: Friday, November 6, 2009

Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Location: Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd.,

Carlsen Center Rm. 234

Campus Map: http://tr.im/B8tg

The program is free and open to the public.

Speakers:

• Josh Rosenau, “Thoughts From Kansas” blogger (http://scienceblogs.com/tfk),

now on staff at the National Center for Science Education (www.ncseweb.org)

“Anti-Evolution Efforts Since the Dover Decision and the Defeat of ‘Intelligent Design’”

• Paul Decelles, Professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College

“Some Myths and Misconceptions About Evolution”

• David Burress, retired KU economics professor and a founding member of Kansas Citizens For Science

“Fighting About Darwin: Who and Why”

Moderator:

Harry McDonald, former Blue Valley biology teacher and President of Kansas Citizens For Science

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (www.au.org) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans. The Greater Kansas City Chapter’s website is: www.aukc.org.

Kansas Citizens for Science (www.kcfs.org) is a not-for-profit educational organization that promotes a better understanding of what science is and does, by advocating for science education, educating the public about the nature andvalue of science, and serving as an information resource.

####

NOVA "Becoming Human" Part 1 airs tonight

2009-11-03T11:15:00.001-06:00

NOVA: Becoming Human Part 1 tonight on PBS. Check local listings for time.

First Steps: Six million years ago, what set our ancestors on the path from ape to human? http://tr.im/E2kN

WEBCAST: THE MAKING OF THE FITTEST

2009-11-03T10:24:00.000-06:00

Hear NCSE Supporter Sean B. Carroll discuss "The Making of the
Fittest: Natural Selection and the DNA Record of Evolution" on-line!
>From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, November 4, 2009,
Carroll will deliver the third lecture of the 150th anniversary Origin of Species
lecture series, hosted by The Reading Odyssey and the Darwin 150
project -- and the whole lecture will be webcast live.

Sponsors of the lecture series include the National Center for Science
Education, National Geographic, Citrix Online and its HiDef
Conferencing Division, Campaign Monitor, the Harvard University Museum
of Comparative Zoology, SquareSpace, the movie Creation, and the New
York Academy of Sciences. Future speakers in the series include E. O.
Wilson.

For information on the webcast, visit:
http://darwinlecture3.eventbrite.com/

For information about the hosts, visit:
http://www.readingodyssey.com/
http://www.darwin150.com/

JCCC speaker event Nov. 6 celebrates 150th anniversary of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"

2009-11-02T13:14:00.000-06:00

NEWS RELEASE -- FOR RELEASE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Contact: Liz Craig (KCFS) Lynne H. Schulze (AU)

Phone: 913-236-7595 913-633-2479

Email: lizard6849@yahoo.com lynnehs@gmail.com

150 Years On, What’s All The Fuss About Evolution, Science Education and Church and State?

Date: Friday, November 6, 2009

Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Location: Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd.,

Carlsen Center Rm. 234

Campus Map: http://tr.im/B8tg

The program is free and open to the public.

Speakers:

• Josh Rosenau, “Thoughts From Kansas” blogger (http://scienceblogs.com/tfk),

now on staff at the National Center for Science Education (www.ncseweb.org)

“Anti-Evolution Efforts Since the Dover Decision and the Defeat of ‘Intelligent Design’”

• Paul Decelles, Professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College

“Some Myths and Misconceptions About Evolution”

• David Burress, retired KU economics professor and a founding member of Kansas Citizens For Science

“Fighting About Darwin: Who and Why”

Moderator:

Harry McDonald, former Blue Valley biology teacher and President of Kansas Citizens For Science

####

Sen. Al Franken Kicks A** at Health Care Reform Hearing

2009-10-24T17:50:00.000-05:00

Ten Myths About Charles Darwin

2009-10-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

Kevin Padian discusses -- and debunks -- "Ten Myths about Charles
Darwin" in the October 2009 issue of BioScience. "Charles Darwin is
one of the most revered (and at times reviled) figures in Western
history. A great many 'facts' about him and his ideas are the stuff of
textbook myths, others are inaccuracies spread by antievolutionists,
and still others are conventional historical mistakes long corrected
but still repeated," he writes. "I present 10 such misconceptions, and
some quick and necessarily incomplete rebuttals. New scholarship is
rapidly clearing away some of these myths." Addressed are:

* As a boy Darwin was good only for "shooting, dogs, and rat-catching"
* Darwin was a "mere companion" to Captain Robert FitzRoy on the HMS Beagle
* Darwin's epiphany about natural selection came while visiting the
Galápagos Islands
* Darwin stole the credit for natural selection from Alfred Russel Wallace
* Population thinking
* Dual criteria for classification: Genealogy and similarity
* Gradual change is slow and steady
* Human evolution was shaped mainly by natural selection
* Sexual selection is all about how many offspring you leave
* Darwin was a confirmed atheist who had a deathbed conversion to Christianity

Padian concludes, "Myths will always arise and abound ... It is hoped
that this myth-busting scholarship will soon filter down to revisions
of textbooks that discuss Darwin and to public discourse about his
life and work." President of NCSE's board of directors, Padian is
Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California at
Berkeley and also Curator of Paleontology at the University of
California Museum of Paleontology. (Thanks to BioScience for
graciously making Padian's article freely available on-line.)

For "Ten Myths about Charles Darwin" in BioScience, visit:
http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/full/10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.10

New Prehistoric Timeline from National Geographic

2009-10-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

Got questions about the evolution of life on our planet?

Want to know when the first tetrapods appeared? When the first pollen-carrying plants came onboard? Check out the neat new timeline on the Nat Geo website.

Very cool.

The Grandeur of Life: Darwin Exhibit at Linda Hall Library

2009-10-14T17:04:00.006-05:00

This past weekend, I dropped into the LHL to see the current exhibit, "The Grandeur of Life," honoring the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" and Darwin's 200th birthday. A friend of mine, Michael Irvin, designed all the posters, descriptive labels and printed materials related to the exhibit, and they were beautiful.

I wish there were some online photos of the books on display at the LHL. One was from the 16th (or was it 15th?) century, printed by Gutenberg (maker of the first printed Bible). The illustrations, woodcuts and copper engravings, some hand-colored, were spectacular. The incredible detail of a lizard, heron, hedgehog or other critter some early naturalist had collected ... amazing. The books show an evolution not only in thinking about nature, but also in the way animals were portrayed in illustrations.

The exhibit will be up through March 27, so there's no hurry. But hurry there anyway, so you can come back several times to fully appreciate all the displays. An early edition of "Origin" is also on view. Read more about it here.

Talking About Darwin and Evolution - 150th Anniversary of "On the Origin of Species"

2009-10-10T09:44:00.003-05:00

In recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”

    150 Years On, What’s All
    The Fuss About Evolution,
    Science Education and
    Church and State?

    Date:     Friday, November 6, 2009
    Time:     7:00-9:00 p.m.
    Location: Johnson County Community                                  College
                   12345 College Blvd.
                     Carlsen Center Rm. 234
                   Campus Map: http://tr.im/B8tg
                   Free and open to the public

Speakers:

• Josh Rosenau, “Thoughts From Kansas” blogger (http://scienceblogs.com/tfk),
now on staff at the National Center for Science Education (www.ncseweb.org)
“Anti-Evolution Efforts Since the Dover Decision and the Defeat
of ‘Intelligent Design’”

• Paul Decelles, Professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College
“Some Myths and Misconceptions About Evolution”

• David Burress, retired KU economics professor and a founding member
of Kansas Citizens For Science
“Fighting About Darwin: Who and Why”

Moderator:
Harry McDonald, former Blue Valley biology teacher and
President of Kansas Citizens For Science

Co-sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of
Americans United for Separation of Church and State (www.aukc.org)

and Kansas Citizens for Science (www.kcfs.org)

Evolving in Kansas

Are you following "Darwin, the Reluctant Revolutionary" on NPR?

The case for teaching younger kids about evolution

Step away from the sushi.

KU Student article: "Don't 'believe' in evolution"

Video of KCFS/KCAU event Nov. 6 now ONLINE!

Even more pix from 10th Anniversary celebration

More Pix from 10th Anniversary

Four Presidents - 1999-2009

Pictures from the Weekend

posting pictures

KCFS: Celebrating 10 Years

More KCFS photos

Last night's event at JCCC

KCFS photos from the 2005 KSBOE trial of Darwin

Tonight at JCCC -- KCFS/KCAU event! Free!

JCCC speaker event Nov. 6 celebrates 150th anniversary of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"

NOVA "Becoming Human" Part 1 airs tonight

NOVA: Becoming Human Part 1 tonight on PBS. Check local listings for time.First Steps: Six million years ago, what set our ancestors on the path from ape to human? http://tr.im/E2kN

WEBCAST: THE MAKING OF THE FITTEST

JCCC speaker event Nov. 6 celebrates 150th anniversary of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"

Sen. Al Franken Kicks A** at Health Care Reform Hearing

Ten Myths About Charles Darwin

New Prehistoric Timeline from National Geographic

The Grandeur of Life: Darwin Exhibit at Linda Hall Library

Talking About Darwin and Evolution - 150th Anniversary of "On the Origin of Species"

NOVA: Becoming Human Part 1 tonight on PBS. Check local listings for time.

First Steps: Six million years ago, what set our ancestors on the path from ape to human? http://tr.im/E2kN