Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the education of the public about the methods and values of science and advocates excellence in the science curriculum. Activities include participation in educational and scientific organization conferences, workshops for science teachers, operation of a speakers' bureau, maintenance of an informational list serve, and related activities.
The formation of OESE was prompted by the attempts in the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee in 1999 to diminish the teaching of evolution by the introduction of creationist textbook disclaimers to be inserted into any textbook used in public schools that discussed evolution. There have been bills introduced almost every year since 1999 for legislation that would allow teaching creationism in science courses; OESE has opposed all such attempts.
Join OESE
OESE is seeking members. Memberships are available for $10. Please print and fill out the OESE membership application and mail to the address indicated on the form. Tax-deductable donations are also welcomed.
NEWS
THANK YOU, RICHARD DAWKINS
OESE thanks Richard Dawkins and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science for the $5,000 donation to OESE that he announced at his talk on the OU Campus on Friday, March 6, 2009. Although OESE played a small role in bringing Dawkins to OU, we are happy Dawkins appreciates the larger role we play in supporting science education in Oklahoma. Dawkins remarks about OESE can be seen in this video clip from RichardDawkins.net.
OESE is pleased to announce that Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science donated an additional $1,500 to OESE at the end of 2009.
One-man play on Charles Darwin available for interested audiances.
See it on YouTube.
EVENTS
Darwin Day Presentation (12 Feb) at Cameron University
"Intelligent Design: Politics and religion, Not Science," will be given by Dr. Victor Hutchison, George Lynn Cross Research Professor of Zoology Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma on Friday, 12 February, 12:30 p.m, in Room 100, Sciences Complex, Cameron University in Lawton. The talk is free, sponsored by the Cameron Tri-Beta Club, and is open to the public.
CLERGY LETTER PROJECT: EVOLUTION WEEKEND.
Participants for Evolution Weekend 2010 (12-14 February 2010) continue to sign up (www.evolutionweekend.org)
Churches in Oklahoma that have signed up so far:
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bartlesville,
Bartlesville, OK,
Kathryn Reese, Minister
First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),
Broken Arrow, OK,
The Rev. Michael J. Barron
Cement United Methodist Church,
Cement, OK,
The Rev. Galeda M. Jones,
The Rev. Montie D. Jones
Cyril United Methodist Church,
Cyril, OK,
The Rev. Galeda M. Jones,
The Rev. Montie D. Jones
First United Methodist Church,
Hugo, OK,
The Rev. Jan Fletcher
Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ,
Oklahoma City, OK,
Dr. Robin R. Meyers, Minister
Fellowship Congregational Church,
Tulsa, OK,
The Rev. Dr. Paul Ashby
Unity Church of Christianity,
Tulsa, OK,
The Rev. Mary Anne Harris
This petition supports the teaching of science and only science in Oklahoma public school science classes. The petition was approved by the Oklahoma Academy of Science, Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE), Oklahoma Mainstream Baptists, OK Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Tulsa and OKC Interfaith Alliances, and representatives from several Oklahoma colleges. Go to the petition page to sign the petition online or download a copy to gather signatures.
When your email program starts up, enter subscribe in the body of the message, then send the email.
The OKEVOL-L List Serve was established to alert and inform
all interested parties in the evolution/creationism debate in
Oklahoma. Messages will be sent only with approval of the list
managers so that traffic will be kept to a minimum. Information on
proposed legislative actions dealing with attempts to place
creationist materials into public schools, important scheduled public
meetings or debates on evolution/creationism, and any significant
other news items dealing with these issues or related items on
attempts at inappropriate or unconstitutional censorship will be
sent to subscribers.
Teachers' Evolution Workshop
The fourth annual Teachers' Workshop on the Teaching of Evolution was held at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum on Natural History (SNOMNH) on 5 September with teachers and science education majors from across the state: Chamberlain Middle School, ASTEC Charter Middle School, Comanche High School, Project HOPE, Mount Saint Mary High School, Westmoore High School, Cameron University, Davis Public Schools, Clinton Middle School, Emerson High School, Oklahoma Christian Academy, Jenks High School, Emerson High School, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University. There were some schools represented by more than one participant.
The seven Instructors represented SNOMNH staff, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma and Putnam City School System
Participants received eight hours of professional development credit. The workshop was organized by OESE and sponsored by SNOMNH and the OU Biological Station.
 Clergy Letter Project: All clergy members are encouraged to go to this link to sign the nationwide outpouring of support for teaching evolution. For too long, the misperception that science and religion are inevitably in conflict has created unnecessary division and conflict concerning the teaching of evolution. The project is also described at the link.
OESE Joins Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science.
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE) has joined the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS), organized coordinate efforts to improve public outreach and science education. The goals of COPUS are:
- Building the COPUS network - Underpinning the COPUS effort is a growing network of organizations and individuals who share a common goal: engaging sectors of the public in science and increasing their appreciation and understanding of the scientific enterprise. Find out more about participating in the COPUS Network.here
- Developing state-level benchmark science-indicator reports on the importance of science to the U.S. economy and standard-of-living
- Supporting a national effort to promote the public understanding of science in a year-long celebration: Year of Science 2009 (also available: Year of Science 2009 fact sheet [PDF])
- Integrating efforts with the Understanding Science website project currently under development at the University of California, Berkeley
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