Teaching Evolution Across the
Curriculum
Irene Anne Eckstrand, National Institutes of Health
Ida Chow, Society for Developmental Biology
A Short Story…
is the fundamental
organizing principle of biology
Advanced Placement Tests
Medical College Admissions Test
Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives
the diversity and unity of life.
Reorganizing around Foundational Concepts
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free
energy and molecular building blocks to grow,
to reproduce and to maintain dynamic
homeostasis.
Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve,
transmit and respond to
information essential to life processes.
Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and
these systems and their interactions possess
complex properties.
Includes more evolution than in the past
(processes that increase genetic diversity)
Scientific Foundations for Future
Physicians
Principle: Demonstrate an understanding of
how the organizing principle of evolution by
natural selection explains the diversity of life
on earth
NAS Conference
Oct 25-26, 2011
Purpose: Begin to develop a roadmap and strategic plan for engaging professional
societies and their members in future work to promote teaching evolution across the
biology curriculum.
Organizer: Dr. Jay Labov, Senior Advisor for Education and Communication, NAS and NRC
Participants: 83 high school and college teachers, scientists, professional society
representatives, funders, advocates
Agenda: Presentations, working groups, panel discussions, conversation time
http://nas-sites.org/thinkingevolutionarily/
NAS Conference
Organizing Committee:
Cynthia Beall, Case Western Reserve, Chair
Paul Beardsley, California State Polytechnic University
Ida Chow, Society for Developmental Biology
James Collins, Arizona State University
Irene Eckstrand, National Institutes of Health
Kristin Jenkins, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
Nancy Moran, Yale University
Gordon Uno, University of Oklahoma
What I Learned…
Naïve model
Ross Nehm
Ohio State University
Scientific model
Mixed model
What I Learned…
Teleology
Design and purpose analogous to human
action are inherent in the rest of nature.
Nature is goal-oriented.
cause
effect
What I Learned…
Teleonomy
Apparent purpose of structures and
functions deriving from their
evolutionary history
cause
cause
effect
What I Learned…
Teleonomy
They really look more
like this – or worse.
NIH Curriculum Supplement
Students will learn…
…the importance of evidence in interpreting examples of evolution and
medicine.
…how common ancestry relates to the characteristics of living things.
…that natural selection is the only evolutionary mechanism to consistently
yield adaptations.
…why variation among humans is distributed geographically.
…that natural selection and common ancestry can explain why humans are
susceptible to many diseases.
…how to use data and apply principles of natural selection to explain the
relatively high frequency of disease in certain populations.
…how comparisons of genetic sequences are important for studying
evolution.
…that the mechanisms of evolution enhance our understanding of health and
disease.
Coalition of Scientific Societies
- Formed in 2006
- Purpose: To respond to the challenges of teaching evolutionary science
and related subjects in public schools across the United States.
- Initially composed of 17 scientific societies covering all disciplines:
physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, biology, developmental biology,
physiology, pathology, pharmacology, genetics, biophysics, social sciences,
science teachers. Some 20 additional societies joined the Coalition later.
National Academy of Sciences worked with the Coalition.
- Surveys: focus groups and telephone surveys on the voting public’s
opinion on evolution and teaching of evolution in public school
classrooms.
Coalition of Scientific Societies
Evolution Thought Trail
Evolution Thought Trail
First USA Science and Engineering Festival Expo in Washington, DC – October, 2010
Coalition Societies at the EVAC
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Society for Human Genetics
American Society of Plant Biologists
Carnegie Institution for Science
Ecological Society of America
National Academy of Sciences
National Association of Biology Teachers
National Center for Science Education
National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
National Museum of Natural History
Society for Developmental Biology
Society for the Study of Evolution
Next Steps
Common message on the importance of Thinking Evolutionarily
Central resources site /Compilation of existing materials:
working group – Susan Musante (AIBS), Jean Heitz (Bio
Directors), Ida Chow (SDB), TBD (ABLE). Additional volunteers?
Professional development for society members: How to
integrate evolution concepts into each disciplinary curriculum.
Ex: FASEB evolution resources website; Understanding Evolution
website; NCSE website; NESCent website
Thinking Evolutionarily
Suggestions?
Recommendations?
Volunteers?
Call to Action!