The form of antievolutionism called creation science gave rise in the 1980s to intelligent design (ID), which thrived during the 1990s and early part of the 21st century until its teaching was declared unconstitutional by a Federal district court in 2005. But even before its legal defeat, ID proponents were advocating a different approach that was intended both to avoid successful legal challenges and also appeal to American cultural values. This “evidence against evolution” approach arises from both a Supreme Court legal decision striking down the teaching of creation science, and a Senator’s attempt to modify the 2001 No Child Left Behind education act. It currently takes the form of proposed legislation to protect from legal action teachers who wish to teach alleged “weaknesses of evolution”, or proposed changes to state science education standards encouraging the “critical analysis” (i.e., criticism) of evolution as a student critical thinking exercise. These approaches are far less obviously examples of religious advocacy, and are believed to therefore be able to with stand constitutional challenge.

After the failure of creation science and intelligent design to survive legal tests of their constitutionality, the creationist movement evolved new strategies. These call for teaching the “strengths and weaknesses of evolution” or the “critical analysis of evolution” which are creationism in disguise. In lieu of policies promoting the teaching of creation science or Intelligent Design, modern creationists try to change state science education standards or pass state legislation to promote these “softer” and less-obvious approaches. Such “Academic Freedom Act” legislation has popped up in several states already, and reflects the creationism du jour. Dr. Scott will offer strategies for handling these assaults on evolution education.

The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival will pay tribute to the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birth with a retrospective screening of Stanley Kramer's Inherit the Wind, followed by a panel discussion examining how science, backed by evidence, can stir up public and private controversy. The panel includes Dr. Scott, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Weiner, and Jon Amiel, director of the Charles Darwin biopic "Creation". Stanley Kramer's epic movie, released in 1960 and starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March and Gene Kelly, was a fictionalized version of the infamous 1925 Scopes "Monkey Trial". The trial was triggered by a public outcry surrounding the teaching of evolution in schools in the 1920s. Further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

Event sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

With the passage of an "academic freedom" act in Louisiana, there's never been a more appropriate time to talk about the evolution of creationism. Providing the history, the overview, and a look at key creationist tactics will be Dr. Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education. Dr. Barbara Forrest from Southeastern Louisiana University, will discuss the likely impact of the new Louisiana law on teaching science in the state. The Honorable Judge John E. Jones, who presided over the landmark 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover trial (which banished intelligent design from the classroom), will discuss the case law leading to the Dover trial and how judges decide what is good science. Dr. Ken Miller, author of Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul, will dissect the "science" of intelligent design. Cost: High school teachers and students free with proof of status; others: conference registration fee ($445). Further details can be found on this page.