Alliance For Science - Announcements

NAS Releases "Science, Evolution, and Creationism"

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:02:17 -0700

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

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:28:51 -0700

Start: Jan 12 2008 - 2:00pm

End: Jan 12 2008 - 4:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

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

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:35:36 -0700

Start: Jan 13 2008 - 2:00pm

End: Jan 13 2008 - 4:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

NOTICE
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.

A summary of Irv’s presentation -- to reframe the debate from misuse of “social Darwinism” -- is given below. As always, both members and the general public are welcome to attend.

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

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:59:48 -0600

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.

AfS Position Statement on Creation Museum

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:48:32 -0600

On June 17th, the Alliance for Science Board of Directors adopted the following position statement on the Answers In Genesis Creation Museum which opened recently in Petersburg, Kentucky.
Position Statement on the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum (Adobe PDF format).

Alliance for Science meeting June 24th

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:12:04 -0600

Start: Jun 24 2007 - 3:30pm

End: Jun 24 2007 - 5:30pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

The Alliance for Science is holding a general membership meeting. It is being help Sunday, June 24th, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street, Falls Church VA 22046. Mapquest Map Link

All current members and anyone interested in joining are welcome to attend.

Supporting Evolution at the Grass Roots - Building Better Bridges

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0700

Start: Feb 16 2007 - 7:45pm

End: Feb 16 2007 - 10:45pm

Timezone: US/Pacific

Alliance For Science Board Chairman Irving Wainer will be chairing a symposium at this years' national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Francisco. The symposium, "Supporting Evolution at the Grass-Roots: Building Better Bridges," is slated for Friday, February 16, from 1:45 - 4:45 PM.

When Good Science and Good Theology Meet

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:25:54 -0700

Start: Feb 11 2007 - 9:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

You are invited to a sermon on the harmony of faith and science, presented by Alliance for Science member The Rev. Pat Conover, on Sunday, February 11, 2007.

Program:

9:30 a.m.: Pat Conover, M. Div., Ph.D., will preach on the topic of "When Good Science and Good Theology Meet."
11:30 a.m.: Rev. Conover will lead a discussion on the same topic after the 9:30 a.m. worship service.

Location:

Seekers Church
276 Carroll St., NW
Washington, DC

(about 100 yards from the Takoma stop on the Metro Red Line)

About Pat Conover:

"Separation of Faith and Science" by Rev. Henry Green

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:48:47 -0600

Start: Apr 26 2006 - 7:30pm

End: Apr 26 2006 - 9:30pm

Timezone: US/Eastern

Public Meeting Featuring Rev. Henry Green Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church Annapolis, MD speaking on… “Separation of Faith and Science: A Good Thing for Both!”

Do We Need a Capital Area Citizens for Science?

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:15:23 -0700

Start: Mar 30 2006 - 7:00pm

End: Mar 30 2006 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

To a great extent, the scientific community has responded in a positive and active manner in their opposition to the introduction of HB 1228 and HB 1531 into the MD State Legislature. However, the extent of the response has also exposed some weaknesses in the pro-evolution/pro-science forces. We are not in the position to readily bring religious and non-science based people into this discussion in a pro-science manner. It is the opinion of the Alliance for Science that we need to form a grassroots organization encompassing Northern VA, MD and DC whose goal will be to unite all sectors of our society in the support of science.

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.

Alliance For Science - Announcements

NAS Releases "Science, Evolution, and Creationism"

NCAS Event - Shermer Talk and Book Signing

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.

Darwin/Lincoln 200: Evolution and Cooperation Reframing the Debate

Clergy Letter Project founder appearances in DC-Baltimore-Annapolis

Dr. Zimmerman event schedule for the week of Oct 21st

AfS Position Statement on Creation Museum

Alliance for Science meeting June 24th

Supporting Evolution at the Grass Roots - Building Better Bridges

When Good Science and Good Theology Meet

"Separation of Faith and Science" by Rev. Henry Green

Do We Need a Capital Area Citizens for Science?

NOTICE
This is the Alliance's official annual meeting and will include election of new members of the Board of Directors.

Darwin/Lincoln 200: Evolution and Cooperation
Reframing the Debate