Difference between revisions of "National Center for Science Education"
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| − | The '''National Center for Science Education''' (NCSE) is a not-for-profit organization that advocates teaching the [[theory of evolution]] in [[U.S.]] [[public school]]s, to the exclusion of [[scientific creationism]] and [[intelligent design]], which it | + | The '''National Center for Science Education''' (NCSE) is a not-for-profit organization that advocates teaching the [[theory of evolution]] in [[U.S.]] [[public school]]s, to the exclusion of [[scientific creationism]] and [[intelligent design]], which it contends is a form of [[creationism]]. |
| − | The NCSE is responsible for "[[Project Steve]]", a | + | The NCSE is responsible for "[[Project Steve]]", a parody of ''[[Logical fallacies#Proof by numbers|argument ad populum]]''. The following statement was released to show its purpose: |
| + | {{QuoteBox|NCSE has been asked numerous times to compile a list of thousands of scientists affirming the validity of the theory of evolution. Although we easily could have done so, we have resisted. We did not wish to mislead the public into thinking that scientific issues are decided by who has the longer list of scientists! | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | Project Steve pokes fun at this practice and, because "Steves" are only about 1% of scientists, it also makes the point that tens of thousands of scientists support evolution. And it honors the late Stephen Jay Gould, evolutionary biologist, NCSE supporter, and friend. | ||
| + | |||
| + | We'd like to think that after Project Steve, we'll have seen the last of bogus "scientists doubting evolution" lists, but it's probably too much to ask. We hope that when such lists are proposed, reporters and other citizens will ask, "How many Steves are on your list!?"}} | ||
| + | The effectiveness of this campaign, however, is dubious at best. | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 19:03, August 14, 2009
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit organization that advocates teaching the theory of evolution in U.S. public schools, to the exclusion of scientific creationism and intelligent design, which it contends is a form of creationism.
The NCSE is responsible for "Project Steve", a parody of argument ad populum. The following statement was released to show its purpose:
NCSE has been asked numerous times to compile a list of thousands of scientists affirming the validity of the theory of evolution. Although we easily could have done so, we have resisted. We did not wish to mislead the public into thinking that scientific issues are decided by who has the longer list of scientists!
... Project Steve pokes fun at this practice and, because "Steves" are only about 1% of scientists, it also makes the point that tens of thousands of scientists support evolution. And it honors the late Stephen Jay Gould, evolutionary biologist, NCSE supporter, and friend.
We'd like to think that after Project Steve, we'll have seen the last of bogus "scientists doubting evolution" lists, but it's probably too much to ask. We hope that when such lists are proposed, reporters and other citizens will ask, "How many Steves are on your list!?"
The effectiveness of this campaign, however, is dubious at best.