To the list moderator,

I was hoping that you might forward to the ISHPSSB listserv the press release
below, which announces a new Springer journal, to begin publication a year from
now, entitled "Outreach and Education in Evolution." The aim of Outreach and
Eduction is to bring the ideas of evolutionary biology to a broad audience, with
particular focus on secondary school educators. Niles Eldredge---co-creator of
the theory of punctuated equilibrium, with Stephen Jay Gould---and Niles' son,
Greg---a teacher in New York City and children's book author---are the
editors-in-chief of the journal.

In connection with this press release, I would like to solicit, from readers of
the ISHPSSB listserv, contributions to the first issue, on the following topic:
teaching the evolution-creation controversy, including the recent intelligent
design controversy, in their history or philosophy of science courses. What were
student attitudes before and after study of the controversy? Were they convinced
by the arguments of evolutionists, if they were not already favorably disposed
towards evolution? How did students see the issue in relation to their religious
beliefs, if they were favorably disposed toward evolution? Were there any
difficult or interesting exchanges in class discussion? We are particularly
interested in publishing, in part or in whole, syllabi, reading lists, and other
pedagogical materials that have been helpful.

Those who might like to contribute an article, any brief comment, or pedagogical
materials concerning this issue can contact me directly with suggestions and
ideas at the following e-mail address: amgoldstein@mac.com.
Papers should be in by mid-April to late May. Anyone wishing to submit a paper
should contact me directly at amgoldstein@mac.com, and I will make arrangements
with that person to get the manuscript reviewed. Springer is currently designing
the online paper submission and article review manager, so we are handling
submissions for the first issue on a case-by-case basis.

I invite listserv readers to print and post this press release around their
offices, departments or labs. A PDF copy of the press release is available at
the following web address:

http://shiftingbalance.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/education-and-outreach-in-evolution/

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cheers and regards,

Adam M. Goldstein, Ph.D.
Editorial Board,
Outreach and Education in Evolution


Begin Press release:
----------------------
Fighting to keep Darwin in the classroom

New journal Outreach and Education in Evolution will arm educators for
battle with creationists

Heidelberg / New York, 12 February 2007

Nearly a century ago, John Scopes was found guilty of violating a Tennessee
statute when he taught evolution in his classroom.  Though an appeals court
later reversed his conviction on a technicality, the law lingered on the books,
joined by later laws promoting “scientific creationism,” and, most recently,
“intelligent design.”  The battle to keep religiously based explanations of the
history of life—especially human life—out of the science curriculum continues
unabated.  And though a number of educational institutions and organizations
have had notable success in combating intelligent design in the classroom, what
is needed now is a fresh source of evolution materials and anti-creationism
ammunition for our school teachers on the front lines of this ongoing battle. 
Today, on Darwin’s 198th birthday, Springer announces plans for a new journal
which will do just that.

A father-and-son team—a world-renowned evolutionary biologist and a highly
skilled and sophisticated science high school teacher—have decided it’s time to
help science educators fight back against the strong pressure creationists are
exerting on public education. In the new journal Outreach and Education in
Evolution, to be published by Springer starting in March 2008, editors-in-chief
Niles and Greg Eldredge intend to fill the gap between scientific literature and
curriculum materials normally available to educators and students.

Niles Eldredge has been a paleontologist on the curatorial staff of the American
Museum of Natural History (AMNH) since 1969.  His theory of “punctuated
equilibria” (co-authored with Stephen Jay Gould) is a milestone in contemporary
evolutionary biology.  He has combated the creationist movement through
lectures, articles and books and is the curator responsible for the content of
the major exhibition Darwin which opened at the AMNH in New York in November
2005, drawing in over 500,000 visitors.  Greg Eldredge has a Masters Degree in
Education and has been a New York City school teacher for the past three years. 
He is a co-author of the children’s book The Fossil Factory.  The two are
supported by an international editorial board, made up of some of the most
renowned scientists in the field.

Niles and Greg Eldredge are in agreement: “Evolution remains the central
unifying idea in biology and yet is still a source of contention and confusion
in the classroom. In Outreach and Education in Evolution, we’ll cover the gamut,
from molecules to ecosystems and from ‘intelligent design’ to natural selection.
 We aim to make a big difference in evolutionary education.”

Amelia McNamara, Vice President, Publishing, Life Sciences and Biomedicine at
Springer, said, "Springer stands behind evolutionary theory as a fundamental
component of modern science education, especially now since the ‘intelligent
design’ advocates have made worrying attempts to promote their views in public
schools.  We are committed to helping educators teach Darwin’s theory to
students at all levels.  Outreach and Education in Evolution will provide them
with the tools they need.”

Outreach and Education in Evolution, a traditional peer-reviewed journal with
non-traditional features, will address these concerns.   
Each quarterly issue will feature peer-reviewed articles on evolution, “letters
from the trenches,” interviews with prominent scientists and educators, lesson
plans, critical essays, cartoons, puzzles, reviews on evolution in the media
(books, movies, museum openings and exhibitions) and more.  The full-color
online edition will offer added value, for example chat rooms, teaching
resources and blogging opportunities.  In addition, Springer has committed up to
$10,000 annually in grants and prizes for the best paper, the best lesson plan,
etc. The journal, aimed at members of the educational, museum, and scientific
community involved in the teaching of evolutionary theory, will be available at
a very affordable price.

Kathleen K. Smith, Director, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, said, “As
an official partner of Outreach and Education in Evolution, NESCENT is pleased
to support this important endeavor.  Focusing on the issues and challenges
surrounding evolution education, it will provide a much needed resource for
teachers presenting this important but often poorly understood subject.  I
believe that it will fill a valuable niche.”

Douglas J. Futuyma, Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook University, added,
“Increasing public understanding of science is of utmost importance.  This is
most urgently required with respect to evolution, which commands acceptance by
less than half the American public.  Springer’s new journal is very timely and
indeed well overdue.  It is sure to play a major role in science education in
the United States and beyond.”

Telmo Pievani, Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Milan,
Italy, said, “Outreach and Education in Evolution is absolutely opportune in its
mission.  It is much needed today for European audiences as well, where some
conservative and religious leaders have grasped the political power of the
tricky ideas of ‘intelligent design.’  For such a project, education is the main
pathway.”

Springer (http://www.springer.com/) is the second-largest publisher worldwide in the
science, technology, and medicine (STM) sector.  Springer is part of Springer
Science+Business Media, one of the world’s leading suppliers of scientific and
specialist literature.  The group publishes over 1,700 journals and more than
5,500 new books a year, as well as the largest STM eBook Collection worldwide. 
Springer has operations in over 20 countries in Europe, the USA, and Asia, and
some 5,000 employees.

The editors-in-chief, Niles and Greg Eldredge, are available for interviews.

Contact:

Joan Robinson, joan.robinson@springer.com, tel +49-6221-487-8130
Eric Merkel-Sobotta, eric.merkel-sobotta@springer.com, tel +49-173-260-2377

-------------------
End press release

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