Announcements
NAS Releases "Science, Evolution, and Creationism"
On Friday, January 4th, the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine jointly unveiled the new publication Science, Evolution, and Creationism a major update and expansion of an earlier publication. The book is drawing praise from scientists and educators worldwide. You can order a printed copy, skim chapters online, or download a PDF of the entire document at the National Academy Press website. Note that you have to do
NCAS Event - Shermer Talk and Book Signing
Location:
National Science Foundation, Room 110
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
(see below for location details)
Details at National Capital Area Skeptics Website
Drawing on research from neuroeconomics, Shermer explores what brain scans reveal about bargaining, snap purchases, and how trust is established in business. Utilizing experiments in behavioral economics, Shermer shows why people hang on to losing stocks and failing companies, why business negotiations often disintegrate into emotional tit-for-tat disputes, and why money does not make us happy. Employing research from complexity theory, Shermer shows how evolution and economics are both examples of a larger and still somewhat mysterious phenomenon of emergence, where one plus one equals three.
Along the way, Shermer answers such provocative questions as, Do our tribal roots mean that we will always be a sucker for brands? How is the biochemical joy of sex similar to the rewards of business cooperation? How can nations increase trust within their borders? Finally, Shermer considers the consequences of globalization and what will happen if nations allow free trade across their borders.
Evolution and Cooperation - Alliance Meeting
NOTICE
This is the Alliance's official annual meeting and will include election of new members of the Board of Directors.
This is the Alliance's official annual meeting and will include election of new members of the Board of Directors.
- Location:
- Falls Church Community Center Link to Mapquest Map
223 Little Falls St., Falls Church VA 22046
703-248-5077
- Program:
- Irv Wainer, Chairman of the Alliance for Science, will present a theme for us to focus on in 2009, “Evolution and Cooperation,” which the Feb. 12, 2009 (200th) birthdays of both Darwin and Lincoln have inspired.
Darwin/Lincoln 200: Evolution and Cooperation
Reframing the Debate
There is an intersection between African American history and evolutionary science, although it is not as direct as one would assume. Since February 12, 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of both Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, examining this intersection now is appropriate. Surprisingly, there is very little written about the impact of Darwinism on African Americans. Historically, the primary effect of evolutionary theory on African Americans has been indirect and has resulted from the misuse of Darwin's work -- in essence, Social Darwinism and "the survival of the fittest."
This Social Darwinism is how Darwinism has been framed, but it can be reframed. In Darwin, Competition and Cooperation, Ashley Montagu wrote: "I have in mind the scientists and scientific thinkers in Darwin's own and allied fields who…overstressed and misunderstood the factor of competition and either largely or altogether neglected and underestimated the factor of co-operation…They failed to give the factor of co-operation a place in the concept of natural selection in particular and in the description of the evolutionary process in general…In this substantive failure to recognize the importance of co-operation they succeeded in conveying a view of nature that was badly maimed and sadly out of focus."
Clergy Letter Project founder appearances in DC-Baltimore-Annapolis
Dr. Zimmerman event schedule for the week of Oct 21st
The Alliance for Science is pleased to announce the schedules for appearances by Dr. Michael Zimmerman, founder of the Clergy Letter Project. There are five different events in DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis. Click "Read the rest of this entry" for full details.
| Sunday, Oct 21 3:00 pm | The Alliance for Science hosts an informal presentation by Dr. Michael Zimmerman on his work building bridges between scientists and clergy to promote science literacy. Join us for this presentation and a "Pot Luck Dinner" at Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church, VA 22046. Contact Mary Detweiler 703-400-1025, email: mary DOT detweiler AT verizon.net. Download PDF flyer |
| Monday, Oct 22 12:00 noon | Presentation by Dr. Michael Zimmerman at the National Institute on Aging/NIH, Gerontology Research Center, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224. Call 410-558-8498 (NIA Office) |
| Monday Oct 22 7:30 pm | Washington Grove United Methodist Church, 303 Chestnut Rd., Washington Grove, MD 20880. Call 301-869-3753 (church). Topic: Exploring the limits of science: Evolution, Environmentalism and Science Literacy -- Faith and Science can work together, as we address critical environmental issues with scientific knowledge. Download PDF flyer |
| Tuesday Oct 23 7:00 pm | Annapolis Cafe Scientifique, b.b. bistro, 112A Annapolis Street, Annapolis MD 21401. Topic: Scientists and clergy working together to improve science literacy. Additional details here. Download PDF flyer |
| Wednesday Oct 24 5:30 pm | Georgetown University seminar sponsored by Dept. of Biology. Topic: The Clergy Letter Project: Building Bridges to Enhance Science Literacy. Open to all universities and scientific organizations; followed by reception. Location: Executive Conference Room, 7th Floor, ICC Building (Click on "main" map here for more info Campus Map). Contact Prof. Peter Armbruster, email: paa9 AT georgetown.edu. Parking: Suggest using shuttle bus from Dupont Circle (schedule) or Rosslyn (schedule); parking on campus is expensive; some 2-hour spaces available surrounding campus. |
