Provides an exercise to promote students' understanding of the commonality of certain basic questions to all of biology and demonstrate the power of using different approaches with very different assumptions. (Contains 15 references.) (ASK)

In 1999, William Dembski became director of the newly established Michael Polanyi Center at Baylor University, thanks to the support of Baylor's president Robert Sloan. The center was, as Dembski observed, "the first intelligent design think tank at a research university." As such, it fulfilled a crucial objective of the "intelligent design"…

A level of organization schema is presented which uses the concept of the organism as the pivotal unit and emphasizes biological relationships. (BB)

Investigates how 11th graders think with respect to evolution and the development of species. Reports that the pupils have extensive factual knowledge, but have difficulty in relating these facts in coherent descriptions and explanations. (Author/YP)

There are significant variances in both the religious and non-religious beliefs for rejecting evolution, and likewise diversity in the extent to which various creationists reject evolution. Describes the anti-evolution stances of literalists, progressives, and theists and addresses teaching concerns relative to anti-evolution positions. Contains…

Modern thought is most dependent upon the influence of Charles Darwin. Discusses Darwin's contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, and modern zeitgeist. (WRM)

Philosophers of biology have long argued that Darwin's theory of evolution was qualitatively different from all earlier theories of evolution. Whereas Darwin's predecessors and contemporaries explained adaptation as the transformation of a species' ''essence,'' Darwin explained adaptation as the selective propagation of randomly occurring…

As both individuals and societies, we are making decisions today that will have profound consequences for future generations. From preserving Earth's plants and animals to altering our use of fossil fuels, none of these decisions can be made wisely without a thorough understanding of life's history on our planet through biological evolution.…

Explains why Catholics are free to believe in evolution and Catholic educators are free to teach evolution. Catholics do not take a fundamentalist approach to the interpretation of scripture. Argues that science and religion are compatible, and that religion has much to offer science in terms of moral issues. (NB)

Author discusses ways in which Catholic educators can incorporate science into religious education. Argues that science and religion both seek the truth, and therefore do not contradict each other. Offers suggestions for making connections between the two, and presents Internet resources for the educator. (Contains nine references and resources.)…

Introduces a paleontology curriculum that focuses on the concepts of observation and inference, setting up an experiment, collecting data, and developing and testing a hypothesis. Features units such as Nature of Science, Paleontology of Florissant, and Evolution. (YDS)

Discusses the issue of teaching evolution to middle and high school students and parent objections to this matter. Describes a curriculum resource book entitled "Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science" that was written for parents, teachers, and community leaders and is endorsed by the National Academy of Science's Center for Science,…

Surveys reveal that many in our society have an inadequate and inaccurate understanding of evolution (Alters & Alters, 2001). Much of this can be traced directly to popular misconceptions about the nature of science. This, in turn, can be linked to misrepresentation by those opposed to evolution, although inadequate or ineffective treatment by ill…

Discusses the strengths of the many lines of scientific evidence supporting the idea of human evolution and the importance of the agreement that exists between them. Argues that using humans as a case study in evolution allows educators to illustrate broader aspects of the nature of science and how the overall strength of any scientific…

Addresses the apparent conflicts between the ideas of evolutionary biology and the Jewish faith, especially those related to literal interpretations of the Old Testament. Believes that lurking behind the would-be debate between the Torah and evolution is either a shallow understanding of the Torah, or an unsophisticated appreciation of science, or…