National Center for Science Education Hosts Conference at Vanderbilt University
By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator
The National Center for Science Education supports teachers in accurately conveying what can often be seen as the difficult or even politicized concepts in science. Making strides to help teachers understand topics like climate change and evolution are high priorities for the organization.
This year, NCSE chose Vanderbilt University to host their annual professional development conference from June 19-22 called “Using Evidence to Resolve Scientific Misconceptions.” NCSE worked closely with the Evolutionary Studies Initiative to put this conference together.
The NCSE Supporting Teachers organizational team included Lin Andrews, Director of Teacher Support, and Heather Grimes, Program Coordinator. They worked closely with several faculty from the Evolutionary Studies Initiative, including Larisa DeSantis, Paul Durst, Neil Kelley, and Antonis Rokas. After DeSantis and Rokas provided initial consultations, programming support was provided by Durst and Kelley.
Durst explained to the group of more than 20 teachers some of the benefits that ESI could provide to teachers throughout the state – including exciting outreach opportunities to talk to classrooms about current research projects and broader topics, like hominid evolution.
Kelley led the teachers out into the field for a trip to Coon Creek Science Center where the teachers learned to dig for, identify and preserve fossils.
According to Andrews, “my teachers are still talking about all the fossils they found and are sending pictures as they preserve them with floor wax. [The Coon Creek Science Center trip] made a HUGE impression on them, and we appreciate everyone’s time and efforts that when into the experience.”
Andrews is excited to work with ESI in the future and said, “we’d love to be involved, and we love the Evolutionary Studies Initiative.”
Durst will continue spreading awareness of ESI at the annual conference of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution in Ferrara, Italy from July 23-27. Several graduate students studying evolution will also help run the booth and talk about their experiences at Vanderbilt.