October 26, 1999
Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858 or tcohen@ukans.edu.
LAWRENCE -- The Chronicle of Higher Education has published an article in its Oct. 29 issue by University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway on the state Board of Education's vote on evolution.
In the article, "The Evolution of a Controversy in Kansas Shows Why Scientists Must Defend the Search for Truth," Hemenway calls on universities to "lead a crusade for science education across the country" and show support for science teachers "many of whom are feeling beleaguered."
The issue will appear in newsstands by Tuesday. The article also is available online at www.chronicle.com.
In the article, Hemenway proposes three steps colleges and universities should take to improve science literacy among students:
"1. Prepare science students skilled in public discourse. Major American research universities have a special mission to educate scientists who will discover new knowledge, and to educate science teachers who will inspire young people to become scientists. But it should be understood that becoming a scientist and science teacher means being trained for and accepting a public role.
"2. Educate all students, majors and non-majors, to be scientifically literate. Let the goal be that every university graduate is prepared to contribute to public debate over scientific issues. Obviously, this will mean a major revision of our general education curriculum. In so far as we can, educate the public to be scientifically literate. Let continuing scientific education for adult learners be a high priority. Let every community in your state know, that if it is wanted, help is available when its local school board debates whether to teach evolution.
"3. Do what we can to educate the rest of the public to be scientifically literate. Every college and university should make continuing scientific education for adult learners a high priority. Institutions should also reach out to members of their communities who are not students. Each institution should make teams of professors available for help whenever a state or local school board debates whether to teach evolution."