Darwin Day Archives - Highlights from past Darwin Days at UTK

2008
	Theme: "Intelligent Design: Is it science? Should it be taught in public schools?" Darwin Day 2008 took place over February 11th-13th. All events focused on Intelligent Design, which has recently been promoted as an alternative to evolution education in several counties in the United States (and one in Tennessee). We kicked off Darwin Day with a Teacher Workshop in the beautiful Emporium Annex space in downtown Knoxville. Dr.s Gary McGracken and Andy Kramer joined guest speaker Dr. Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education in presenting a deconstruction of Intelligent Design for the 37 workshop participants. Dr. Eugenie Scott’s keynote talk on Feb 12 entitled “Intelligent Design: Is it science? Is it valid?” packed the University Center Auditorium which holds over 500 people. On Feb 13 we showed two daytime films (Flock of Dodos and Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial) that went over capacity (of 55) in the original Hodges Media Center room, so that an additional room had to be opened up to accommodate everyone. At lunchtime a seminar by Dr. Gordon Burghardt entitled “Before Paley: the unexpected roots of Intelligent Design” was also well-attended and -received. Lastly, we drew an estimated crowd of 130 to an evening showing of the film War on science: Intelligent Design in the Classroom on Feb 13, which was followed by a panel discussion with Dr.s McCracken, Kramer, and Mike Gilchrist. Announcement for 2008 Teacher Workshop Announcement for 2008 Essay Contest We awarded EEB undergraduate Emily Giles in our newly revived Essay Contest for her essay on the topic: “What is science, and what criteria should be used to decide what is taught in science classrooms? Discuss recent court cases on science standards in public schools.” We plan to expand our efforts to include local middle and high schools in the Essay Contest next year. Read the winning essay by Emily Giles Darwin Day received great publicity this year, including interview segments on our local NPR station a local talk radio station. We were covered on the front page of the Beacon on Feb 11, and also in an article on the UTK website which linked from a rotating logo on the UTK homepage during the events. This was all in addition to (and due to) our regular advertising in the Beacon and Metro Pulse, among local colleges and public secondary schools, via press releases to local media, and massive postering efforts from our volunteers. Feb 8 article on UTK website Feb 11 article in The Beacon These events were made possible with the generous support of our sponsors for 2008: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Offices of the Provost and Chancellor, UTK Department of Physics and Astronomy, UTK Department of Microbiology, UTK Division of Biology, UTK Department of Anthropology, UTK College of Arts & Sciences Department of Psychology, UTK Department of Biochemistry & Cellular & Molecular Biology, UTK Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, UTK College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, UTK Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology , UTK and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
2007
	Theme: "Evolution and Medicine" Darwin Day 2007 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville took place over February 6th-13th. The theme was "Evolution and Medicine," and focused on the impact of evolution in understanding disease and public health. We had a documentary film screening, two prominent speakers giving evening talks for the general public and additional focused talks, and a workshop for area teachers on integrating evolutionary topics in the public school curriculum. 2007 Sponsors: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) The Haines-Morris Fund, UTK College of Arts & Sciences Department of Microbiology, UTK Division of Biology, UTK College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences , UTK Department of Psychology, UTK Department of Anthropology, UTK Department of Biochemistry & Cellular & Molecular Biology, UTK Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology , UTK and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Frank H. McClung Museum, UTK Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Highlights: Randolph Nesse, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Michigan Paul Ewald, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Director of the program for Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Louisville We also hosted a workshop for area high and middle school teachers titled “Evolution – It is too important not to teach”. The workshop was hosted by the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. Dr. Andrew Kramer and Dr. Gary McCracken taught the workshop, which was free to all area teachers in Knox and surrounding counties. We were also fortunate to screen the documentary film Flock of Dodos on the Evolution/Intelligent Design clash before it was widely released!
2006
	Theme: "Evolution and Religion" View Flyer Talk by Rev. Michael Dowd; View Flyer Topic: Why Jesus Loves Darwin and You Could Too Teacher workshop, Dr. Andrew Kramer and Dr. Gary McCracken Teaching Evolution in Public Schools: Current Challenges Film series & Discussions Evolution: Episode 1, Darwin’s dangerous idea (NOVA/PBS) Evolution: Episode 6, The mind’s big bang (NOVA/PBS) Evolution: Episode 7, What about God? (NOVA/PBS) Talk by Rev. Michael Dowd; View Flyer Topic: The Gospel According to Evolution: Great News Personally and Globally Talk by Dr. Tim Berra; View Flyer Topic: Charles Darwin: The Man 1809-1882
2005
	For Darwin Day 2005, we had an information booth, film series, and keynote address by Dr. Michael Shermer. Dr. Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American. Dr. Shermer gave two lectures: "The Science of Good and Evil: The Evolutionary Origins of Morality" and Why People Believe Weird Things: Creationism, Holocaust Denial, and Beyond". Additionally, Marc Cadotte and Dr. Thomas Near appeared on National Public Radio for an interview, followed by a call-in question and answer session with the general public. Participating Organizations 2005: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) Division of Biology, UTK Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, UTK School of Journalism and Electronic Media, UTK Rationalists of East Tennessee
2004
	For Darwin Day 2004, we had an information booth, film series, and keynote address by Dr. Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University entitled "Expecting evolution in medicine, agriculture and daily life". This talk, like his recently published book The Evolution Explosion, emphasized the evolutionary consequences of antibiotic and antiviral use, insecticide applications, and herbicide bioengineering. Dr. Palumbi delivered another talk in the afternoon on conservation genetics, including diagnostic forensics, in marine mammals. During the very early hours of Darwin Day, a few dedicated members spray-painted this advertisement on a big rock (streetlights in background for scale) traditionally grafittied by Greek societies on campus.
2003
	This year we continued the information booth, film series, and teacher's workshop, led by Dr. Paula Kover and entitled "Teaching Evolution with Hands-on Exercises". Our guest speaker was paleontologist Dr. Ian Tattersall who authored Becoming Human, The Last Neanderthals, The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution, and other books. As it has been said of one of his books: "If you find it preposterous that a dumb, skinny ape can go from foraging for fruit and fleeing from lions to splitting the atom and solving Rubik's cube in just five million years, this might change your mind." The keynote address by Dr. Tattersall was entitled "Becoming Human" and presented evidence of human evolution from primate ancestors.
2002
	This year's events consisted of an information booth in the University Center lobby, a film series with accompanying discussions, and a teacher's workshop, led by Dr. Paula Kover and Dr. Susan Riechert entitled "Teaching Evolution with the Biology in a Box". Our guest speaker was philosopher Dr. Elliot Sober, who spoke on "The Design Argument" and "Common Ancestry and Natural Selection".
2001
	This year our activities were coordinated with the Clarence Brown Theatre's production of "Inherit the Wind" and co-sponsored by the Theatre Department and the College of Law at the University of Tennessee. Productions of the play ran from February 1-17 to coincide with the February 12-13 celebration of Darin Day. Lectures (below) included a keynote address by Dr. Barry Palevitz of the University of Georgia and several talks relating to "Inherit the Wind". We had an information booth, film series, and a workshop for teachers (link below). Teacher Workshop: "Focus on Gateway- Teaching Science from an Evolutionary Viewpoint" Keynote Address, February 13: "Never say Uncle: Creationism and Intelligent Design" By Dr. Barry Palevitz February 5: "Theatre Talk- A Discussion of Media and the Theatre" By Doug Mason, entertainment writer for the Knoxville News Sentinel February 9: "The Scopes Trial and the Evolving Concept of Freedom" By Dr. Ed Larson "The Scopes Trial and the Evolving Concept of Freedom" By Dr. Ed Larson February 14: Debate: "What is the evidence for and against the modern theory of evolution?" Dr. Jonathan Wells, Discovery Institute Dr. Massimo Pigliucci
2000
	This year we continued the information booth, film series, and book signing by our keynote speaker, Dr. Ken Miller, Brown University professor and author of several high school biology text books. The theme of this year's teacher workshop organized by Dr. Miller was "Teaching the Fact and Theory of Evolution- Meshing Classroom Practice with Science and with Common Sense". An extensive lecture series spread over three months included the following talks: January 24: "Does Climate Drive Evolution?" (technical) "Evolution? The Fossils Say Yes!" (general public) by Dr. Donald Prothero Keynote Address, February 10: "Finding Darwin 's God: On the Apparent Conflict Between Evolution and Religion" by Dr. Ken Miller March 13: "The Rewards of Cooperation: Cognitive Aspects of Primate Reciprocity" (technical) "Good Natured: The Evolution of Morality in Humans and Other Animals" by Dr. Frans de Waal April 10: "Evolutionary ethics: a phoenix arisen?" (technical) "Darwinism and atheism: a marriage made in heaven?" by Dr. Michael Ruse
1999
	For Darwin Day in 1999, we had the information booth, a film series, and another teaching workshop (link below). The essay contest focused on the words of Ulysses S. Grant: "Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private school, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separate." Our keynote speaker was Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. His talk was entitled, "Separation of God and Darwin." He discussed the ideas of evolution and the teachings as they affect the separation of church and state in our country. Teacher Workshop: "Teaching Evolution: Resolving the Controversies"
1998
	This year we continued the information booth and film series, and had a book signing and keynote address delivered by Dr. William Provine. We also added a workshop for teachers and an essay contest (more in links below). Dr. Provine also delivered a guest seminar on random drift to Dr. McCracken's undergraduate Evolution course. Dr. Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education presented the weekly departmental seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, "Problem Concepts in Evolution: Purpose, Chance, and Design." Teacher Workshop: "Teaching Evolution: Resolving the Controversies" Essay contest (site includes several winning essays) Abstract of Dr. Provine's talk, "Evolution: Free will and punishment and meaning in life"
1997
	Our 1997 activities included an information booth, a film series at the UTK Library, a book display in the campus bookstore, and a keynote address by Dr. Douglas Futuyma on Evolution, Science, and Society. We began work on the Darwin Day Web Page, and the Evolution at UTK Discussion Group was established. Film series Evolution in the Classroom: The 1996 Controversy in Tennessee God, Darwin , and Dinosaurs Origin of Species: Beyond Genesis In the Beginning: The Creationist Controversy In Search of Human Origins: Episode One, The Story of Lucy Creation vs. Evolution: Battle in the Classrooms The Evidence for Evolution Dr. Futuyma's keynote address: "Evolution, Science, and Society"

This site is maintained by Steve Furches & Rachel Goodman (emails under "Darwin Day Home"). This page last updated 22-February-2008.

Theme: "Intelligent Design: Is it science? Should it be taught in public schools?"

Theme: "Evolution and Medicine"

Theme: "Evolution and Religion" View Flyer