Editing National Center for Science Education

{{short description|Nonprofit supporting the teaching of evolution and climate change}}
{{Infobox non-profit
| name         = National Center for Science Education
| logo         = National_Center_for_Science_Education_Logo.png
| image        = 230 Grand Ave, Oakland.jpg
| caption      = 
| type         = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]], [[science education]]
| founded_date = {{start date and age|1981}}
| location     = [[Oakland, CA]], United States. 
| affiliations  = 
| key_people = Amanda L. Townley, Executive Director (2023)
| focus      = Promoting science education and science standards
| method     = Teacher training and science advocacy
| website    = {{URL|ncse.ngo}}
}}

The '''National Center for Science Education''' ('''NCSE''') is a [[Nonprofit organization|not-for-profit]] membership organization in the [[United States]] whose stated mission is to educate the press and the public on the scientific and educational aspects of controversies surrounding the teaching of [[evolution]] and [[climate change]], and to provide information and resources to schools, parents, and other citizens working to keep those topics in public school science education. 

Based in [[Oakland, California]], it claims 4,500 members that include scientists, teachers, clergy, and citizens of varied religious and political affiliations.<ref name="AboutNCSE">{{cite web |url=http://ncse.com/about |title=About NCSE |date=January 2012 |publisher=National Center for Science Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119181010/http://ncse.com/about |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://ncse.com/about/faq "Frequently Asked Questions about NCSE"]. January 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.</ref> The Center opposes the teaching of [[religion|religious]] views in [[science]] classes in [[United States|America]]'s [[Public school (government funded)|public schools]]; it does this through initiatives such as [[Project Steve]]. The Center has been called the "leading anti-creationist organization" in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Panda's Black Box |editor1-first=Nathaniel C. |editor1-last=Comfort |editor1-link=Nathaniel C. Comfort |chapter=Introduction |first=Daniel J. |last=Kevles |year=2007 |author-link=Daniel J. Kevles |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vg2XaexW62wC&pg=PA6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/pandasblackbox00scot/page/6 6] |publisher=Johns Hopkins University |isbn=9780801885990 |oclc=494445311 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/pandasblackbox00scot/page/6 }}</ref> The Center is affiliated with the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AAAS Affiliates |url=http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/affiliates/#N |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

NCSE is currently a member of the [[National Coalition Against Censorship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ncac.org/about-us/coalition|title=The Coalition|publisher=National Coalition Against Censorship|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
In 1980 [[Stanley L. Weinberg]], a veteran high-school teacher in Iowa, began to organize statewide Committees of Correspondence "committed to the defense of education in evolutionary theory," modelled upon the [[committees of correspondence]] in pre-Revolutionary America. Their purpose was to keep interested parties informed about creationist endeavours and to share ideas for responses, allowing a political response at a local level. This grew into volunteer networks in most states, with the ''Creation/Evolution Newsletter'' interconnecting them,<ref>Numbers(2006) p353</ref> which was incorporated as the NCSE in 1983.<ref>[http://ncse.com/about/history History of NCSE], National Center for Science Education</ref> In 1987, author and lecturer [[Eugenie Scott]] became its executive director.<ref>Tom McIver in ''[[Isis (journal)|Isis]]'', quoted in [http://www.ncse.com/evc Eugenie C. Scott's ''Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction''], National Center for Science Education</ref> The Board of Directors and official supporters, as explained by NCSE, "reflects our scientific roots."{{cite quote|date=March 2011}}

In the 1990s, based upon its monitoring of creationist efforts, it issued warnings of high levels of official anti-evolutionism and a "sharp surge upwards" in creationist attacks on evolution, including attempts to downgrade evolution from "fact" to "theory" (see [[evolution as theory and fact]]) or present the "evidence against evolution" (see [[objections to evolution]]).<ref>Numbers(2006) p2</ref>

The organization's supporters include [[Bruce Alberts]], former President of the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]]; [[Donald Johanson]], discoverer of the "[[Australopithecus afarensis|Lucy]]" fossil; and evolutionary biologist [[Francisco J. Ayala]]. Also the late [[paleontologist]] and writer [[Stephen Jay Gould]] was a long-time supporter. As of 2012, the group has 4500 members who are "scientists, teachers, clergy, and citizens with diverse religious and political affiliations."<ref name=AboutNCSE />

Amanda L. Townley has been the organization's Executive Director since December 2023. She replaced [[Ann Reid]], who had been appointed to the position in 2013. Previously, [[Eugenie Scott|Eugenie C. Scott]] served as executive director for 27 years, 1986 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oh |first=Paul |date=23 October 2023 |title=NCSE names Amanda L. Townley next executive director |url=https://ncse.ngo/ncse-names-amanda-l-townley-next-executive-director |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120204624/https://ncse.ngo/ncse-names-amanda-l-townley-next-executive-director |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=National Center for National Education}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/news/2013/11/ncses-new-executive-director-0015185 | title=NCSE's new executive director  | publisher=National Center for Science Education |year= 2013 | access-date =2013-12-23}}</ref>

== Activities and programs ==
The NCSE maintains up-to-date listings of current events and information regarding creationist and antievolution advocacy, as well as about evolution education.<ref>{{cite book|title=Evolution and Creationism|author-first1=Christian C.|author-last1=Young|author-first2=Mark A.|author-last2=Largent|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-313-33953-0|page=292|section=Resources}}</ref> Historian of science [[Michael Shermer]] describes its website as being one of "the two best resources on the Internet on the evolution/creation topic" (the other being [[TalkOrigins Archive]]).<ref>''Science Friction: Where the Known Meets the Unknown'', [[Michael Shermer]], 2004</ref> The NCSE also opposes [[intelligent design]] and other "alternatives" to [[evolution]] because it says they are misleading euphemisms for creationism.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/taking-action/facing-challenges-to-evolution-education | title=Facing Challenges to Evolution Education  | publisher=National Center for Science Education |year= 2008 | access-date =2008-11-04}}</ref>

NCSE "is religiously neutral, though it cooperates nationally and locally with religious organizations, as well as scientific and educational organizations like the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]], the [[National Association of Biology Teachers]], and the [[National Science Teachers Association]]." Its willingness to engage positively with, and avoid taking sides against, religiously minded supporters of evolution has been noted by historian of creationism [[Ronald L. Numbers]] and atheist author [[Richard Dawkins]].<ref>Numbers(2006) p354</ref><ref>''[[The God Delusion]]'', [[Richard Dawkins]], pp66-67</ref>

The NCSE offers a variety of lecturers, including biologists, anthropologists, philosophers, and theologians, for topics relating to evolution, science, and education.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ncse.com/about/staff | title=Staff | publisher=National Center for Science Education | year=2008 | access-date=2008-11-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019165214/http://ncse.com/about/staff | archive-date=2009-10-19 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Also it hosts activities including trips and conferences.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/ncse-events | title=NCSE Events | publisher=National Center for Science Education |year= 2008| access-date =2008-11-04}}</ref> It publishes '''''Reports of the National Center for Science Education''''' bimonthly, containing peer-reviewed articles, book reviews, and news.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ncse.com/media/rncse | title=''Reports of the National Center for Science Education'' | publisher=National Center for Science Education |year= 2008| access-date =2008-11-04}}</ref> From 1980 to 1997, it published the '''''Creation/Evolution Journal''''', which has since been merged into ''Reports of the National Center for Science Education''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ncse.com/media/cej | title=Creation/Evolution Journal | access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> Additionally, it publishes books, such as a compilation of scientific analyses of creationist books.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/store/ncse-books | title=NCSE Books | publisher=National Center for Science Education |year= 2008| access-date =2008-11-04}}</ref>

In 2003, the NCSE gained international attention with [[Project Steve]].<ref>[http://ncse.com/taking-action/project-steve Project Steve], National Center for Science Education, Last updated October 25, 2008, ''retrieved November 4, 2008''.</ref>

In 2005, the NCSE assisted the plaintiffs in ''[[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]]'', the most prominent case testing the constitutionality of intelligent design in [[Public school (government funded)|public school]] science classes, and put their extensive library of creationist materials at the plaintiffs' disposal. [[Nick Matzke]], the NCSE's Public Information Project Director at the time, served as liaison to the legal team, and was responsible for uncovering the substitution of "intelligent design" for "creationism" within drafts of ''[[Of Pandas and People]]'', which became a devastating part of the testimony of [[Barbara Forrest]] (also an NCSE Director),<ref>''Deception by Design'', Lenny Flank, Lenny Flank, Jr., 2007</ref> and was cited extensively in Judge [[John E. Jones III]]'s [[Wikisource:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District|decision]].<ref>[[Wikisource:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]], p32</ref>

In April 2008, the NCSE launched Expelled Exposed, a website critical of the alleged documentary ''[[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]]'' starring [[Ben Stein]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/news/2008/04/expelled-flunks-test-002310 | title=Expelled flunks the test | publisher=National Center for Science Education |date= April 15, 2008| access-date =2007-05-17}}</ref> The website received press attention and a large amount of traffic.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/news/2008/04/expelled-exposed-002306 | title=Expelled exposed | publisher=National Center for Science Education |date= April 18, 2008| access-date =2007-05-17}}</ref>

In 2012, the NCSE announced they would be engaged in efforts to keep [[climate change education]], and global warming issues, safe from threats from special interests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/01/education-advocates-enter-the.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308234531/http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/01/education-advocates-enter-the.html |archive-date=2013-03-08 |work=ScienceInsider |title=Education Advocates Enter the Climate Tempest |first=Sara |last=Reardon |date=January 17, 2012 |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science}}</ref> They have developed a series of lessons [[Climate change mitigation|addressing climate change]] misconceptions and offer teacher training through a Teacher Ambassador program. <ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.skepticzone.tv/ |title=The Skeptic Zone |website=www.skepticzone.tv/ |host=[[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]] |date=January 20, 2019 |access-date=January 29, 2019 }}</ref>

==Media==
[[Eugenie Scott]] appeared on [[Uncommon Knowledge]], as NCSE spokesperson, twice in 2001 debating intelligent design creationist [[William A. Dembski]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/3004521.html |title=Darwin Under The Microscope: Questioning Darwinism |date=December 7, 2001 |access-date=2008-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610060419/http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/3004521.html |archive-date=2010-06-10 |publisher=[[Uncommon Knowledge]] |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/3004591.html |title=In Whose Image? Evolution and Spirituality |date=December 7, 2001 |access-date=2008-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829132820/http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/3004591.html |archive-date=2008-08-29 |publisher=[[Uncommon Knowledge]]}}</ref> Then in 2004, NCSE was represented by Scott on [[Penn and Teller]]'s Showtime television show ''[[Penn & Teller: Bullshit!|Bullshit!]]'' on the episode "''Creationism''".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/previous_episodes.do?episodeid=s1/c| title=Creationism| publisher=[[Penn & Teller: Bullshit!|Bullshit!]]| year=2004| access-date=2008-05-17| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618023601/http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/previous_episodes.do?episodeid=s1%2Fc| archive-date=2008-06-18| url-status=dead}}</ref> Scott offered scientific views about the creationist and intelligent design movements. She noted, "it would be unfair to tell students that there is a serious dispute going on among scientists whether evolution took place. There's not." She further noted that <blockquote>"a lot of the time the creationists ... they'll search through scientific journals and try to pull out something they think demonstrates evolution doesn't work and there is a kind of interesting rationale behind it. Their theology is such that if one thing is wrong with the Bible you have to throw it all out so that's why Genesis has to be interpreted literally. They look at science the same way. If one little piece of the evolutionary puzzle doesn't fit the whole thing has to go." Scott then explained "that's not the way science is done."</blockquote>

In November 2007 Scott discussed the NCSE's exploration of [[intelligent design]] on the [[Nova (American TV series)|NOVA]] documentary ''[[Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial]]'', which documented ''Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://ncse.com/news/2007/11/judgment-day-news-001251 |title=Judgment Day in the news |date=November 15, 2007 |access-date=2008-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427194810/http://ncse.com/news/2007/11/judgment-day-news-001251 |archive-date=2016-04-27 |publisher=National Center for Science Education}}</ref>

== Staff ==
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{{col-break|width=50%}}

===Staff===
* Executive Director: Amanda Townley
* Deputy Director: [[Glenn Branch]]
* Director of Community Science Education: Kate Carter
* Director of Teacher Support: Lin Andrews
* Program Coordinator: Emma Doctors
* IT Specialist: Stuart Fogg
* Member Relations Manager: Nina Hollenberg
* Director of Operations: Rae Holzman
* Director of Development: Deb Janes
* Editor, Reports of the NCSE: Paul Oh
* Director of Communications: Paul Oh

{{col-break|width=50%}}

===Officers and Directors=== 
* [[Kenneth R. Miller]], President<ref>{{cite web |title=OUR PEOPLE |url=https://ncse.ngo/board |website=National Center for Science Education |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref>
* [[Lorne Trottier]], Vice President 
* Michael Haas, Treasurer 
* Vicki Chandler
* Sarah B. George
* Michael B. Lubic
* [[Michael E. Mann]] 
* [[Naomi Oreskes]]
* Barry Polisky
* [[Benjamin D. Santer]]

{{col-end}}

==See also==
*[[Anti-evolution]]
*[[Climate change denial]]
*[[Creation and evolution in public education in the United States]]
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Education in the United States]]
*[[Environmental groups and resources serving K–12 schools]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy#Background: Darwinism and Christianity]]
*[[Intelligent design]]
*[[Intelligent design movement]]
*[[National Council for Science and the Environment]], an unrelated non-profit business-research alliance on environmental policy
*[[Teach the Controversy]]
*[[Wedge strategy]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last = Numbers|first = Ronald |author-link = Ronald Numbers|title = [[The Creationists]]: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design, Expanded Edition| publisher = Harvard University Press|date=November 30, 2006|isbn = 0-674-02339-0}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.ncse.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080423052443/http://www.expelledexposed.com/ Expelled-Exposed]
* [http://ncse.com/media/cej Creation/Evolution journal online 1980–1996 (full run)]

{{Creation Science}}

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[[Category:Organizations based in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1983]]