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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.

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NEWS

Tracking bills in the Oklahoma Legislature
OESE has created a bill-tracking page with instructions for finding and tracking bills in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Owasso teacher wins Milken Educator Award
OESE congratulates Sarah Vann, science teacher at the Owasso Eighth Grade Center, winner of the $25,000 national Milken Education Award from the Milken Family Foundation in Santa Monica, California. In its 25th year, the Milken Educator Award is given to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who further excellence in education. The award has been called the Oscar of teaching. In Oklahoma, the award winner is determined by a blue ribbon panel appointed by the state Department of Education. The final selection is made by the Milken Family Foundation. Ms. Vann teaches advanced physical science. Our heartiest congratulations!

Congratulations to Vic Hutchison
OESE is pleased to announce that OESE founder, former President, and current Board Member, Vic Hutchison has been awarded the 2011 Jack Renner Distinquished Service to Oklahoma Science Education Award by the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association. The Jack Renner Award is OSTA's highest honor given each year to a person or organization in recognition for significant contributions to science education in Oklahoma. Here is the OSTA's announcement:

This year, we honor Dr. Victor Hutchinson, George Lynn Cross Research Professor emeritus for the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Hutchinson's list of accomplishments is long and varied. A retired Colonel in the Army Reserve, a fellow in the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, holder of leadership positions in the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, author or co-author for nearly 150 peer reviewed scientific papers, supervisor for 28 PhD's... The list goes on and on and Dr. Hutchinson has had a very full and active career as a research scientist and University professor.
But our story goes back to the dark days of 1999 when members of the state textbook committee attempted to introduce creationist textbook disclaimers into any textbook used in Oklahoma that discussed Evolution. I attended those hearings and so did Vic Hutchinson and through his efforts and those of others the disclaimers did not make it into law. But from that experience was born Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, founded by Vic with a small group of educators, scientists, theologians, laypersons, and persons interested in maintaining the constitutional separation of church and state. There have been political efforts every year since 1999 to inject religion into public schools and diminish or prohibit the teaching of evolution in Oklahoma science classrooms. And every attempt has been met by Dr. Hutchinson and his colleagues in OESE. He is a tireless advocate for quality science education in our public schools, a regular representative on our behalf in the halls of the legislature, and is a frequent speaker to school and civic groups as well as a commentator on radio and television. He maintains the Oklahoma Evolution listserv, and the OESE website has become a treasure-trove of resources about evolution, evolution education, and science and religion. OESE also sponsors a number of education efforts and by leveraging grants and donations, has made a Teachers Evolution Workshop available to Oklahoma teachers for each of the last six years. His efforts in this realm have been recognized by the Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, with their Constitutional Heritage Award, by the Tulsa Interfaith Alliance with their Award for Science Education and Anti-creationism Efforts, the National Center for Science Education, Friend of Darwin Award and now by the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association with the Jack Renner Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Science Education Award – Bob Melton

Discovery Institute movie Metamorphosis flops in Norman
On Monday, September 19, 2011, the Oklahoma premiere of the move Metamorphosis was held at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the Univerisity of Oklahoma. The movie was sponsored by the OU IDEA Club. A crowd of about 150, mostly students, in the 250 seat auditorium attended. The first 3/4 of the movie is a beautifully crafted description of butterflies and their life cycle. The last 15 minutes or so are devoted to comments by Discovery Institute Fellow Paul Nelson and Biologic Institute (also part of DI) research biologist Ann Gauger contending that butterfly metamorphosis is too complex to be the result of natural selection, and thus, must be designed. Nelson and Gauger were available for questions afterwards. All of the 10-12 questioners were supporters of evolution and asked good questions. Afterwards, the DI blog site called the atmosphere tense and loaded. Thanks to all the students and faculty that attended and stood up for evolution. Further details can be found in this handout, this column from the OU Daily and at the Sensuous Curmudgeon.

Darwin videos on YouTube
Dr. Stan Rice, faculty member at Southeastern Oklahoma State and a Board member of OESE is producing a series of YouTube videos where he portrays Darwin on various topics.

American Association of Medical Colleges recommends a strong background in evolution for medical students
The Scientific Foundations document from the American Association of Medical Colleges stresses the importance of an understanding of evolutionary biology for medical students. In particular, here are the requirements for their Competency E8:
Demonstrate an understanding of how the organizing principle of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of life on earth
1. Explain how genomic variability and mutation contribute to the success of populations.
Examples:

• Explain how inappropriate use of antibiotics has contributed to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
• Explain the persistence of the sickle cell allele in populations of African descent.

• Explain how competition for resources can contribute to fixation of a mutant allele in a population over time.
• Explain how pathogenic or symbiotic interactions shape community structure (for example, changes in the virulence of an emerging pathogen, or influence of nutrition or antibiotics on the composition of the gut flora).

EVENTS

Darwin Day Events at the University of Oklahoma

Reconsidering Darwinian Ethics from the Origin of Species to the Descent of Man

Darwin materials on display at Bizzell Memorial Library

10 - 12 February 2012 -- Evolution Weekend
All participating congregations will address the relationship between religion and science. Many will focus their attention on the theme selected for this year: an interfaith discussion of religion and science. Participating churches in Oklahoma this year include:
First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Broken Arrow, OK, The Rev. Michael J. Barron
Cameron Campus Ministry, Lawton, OK, The Rev. Galeda M. Jones and The Rev. Montie D. Jones
Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ, Tulsa, OK, The Rev. Dr. Paul Ashby
Hope Unitarian Universalist, Tulsa, OK, The Rev. Michael Dowd
Unity Church of Christianity, Tulsa, OK, The Rev. Mary Anne Harris

Science and Religion: Building Bridges, Dismantling Misconceptions Symposium
A symposium on the relationship between science and religion is being organized for the American Association for the Advancement of Science-Southwestern and Rocky Mountains Division (AAAS-SWARM) annual meeting at the University of Tulsa to be held from March 31 — April 4, 2012.
"Science and Religion: Building Bridges, Dismantling Misconceptions" is an interdisciplinary symposium intended to bring together researchers from the social, physical, and biological sciences at the interface of science, religion, and society. It is a common misunderstanding among the American public that science and religion are opposing viewpoints, when in fact they are can be viewed as different bodies of knowledge. This symposium will feature original data and ideas on how the public perceives the interaction between science and religion and the ways in which misconceptions about these relationships can be addressed and corrected. The ultimate goal of this symposium is to generate ideas and strategies that improve the general public's understanding of science as a process, without denigrating the importance of religion in human culture and society.

Topics presented and discussed in this symposium might include but not be limited to:

1. how various religions or denominations view science and scientific discoveries,
2. different ways science can engage the public in meaningful dialogue about science and its relationship with religion,
3. managing non-scientific viewpoints from a scientific perspective,
4. informal education opportunities and the role of scientists, and
5. explaining to the public differences in the ways of knowing in science compared with religion.

SIGN UP FOR OKLAHOMA EVOLUTION LIST SERVE

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.
Click here to unsubscribe from the list serve.

2010 Teachers' Evolution Workshop

Participants received eight hours of professional development credit. The workshop was organized by OESE and sponsored by 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