Evolution Education in the American South: Culture, Politics, and Resources in and around Alabama

by Christopher D. Lynn (Editor), Amanda L. Glaze (Editor), William A. Evans (Editor), Laura K. Reed (Editor)

Overview

This volume reaches beyond the controversy surrounding the teaching and learning of evolution in the United States, specifically in regard to the culture, politics, and beliefs found in the Southeast. The editors argue that despite a deep history of conflict in the region surrounding evolution, there is a wealth of evolution research taking place—from biodiversity in species to cultural evolution and human development. In fact, scientists, educators, and researchers from around the United States have found their niche in the South, where biodiversity is high, culture runs deep, and the pace is just a little bit slower.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349951383
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	03/14/2017
Edition description:	1st ed. 2017
Pages:	333
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher D. Lynn, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Evolutionary Studies at The University of Alabama, USA. He studies the diversity and evolution of non-conscious cognitive behaviors that underlie cooperation, ritual, and recreation.

Amanda L. Glaze, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Teaching and Learning at Georgia Southern University, USA. She studies the intersections of science and society, especially the acceptance and rejection of evolution in the Southeastern United States.

William A. Evans, Ph.D., is Professor of Journalism and Creative Media at The University of Alabama, USA. His research focuses on science communication and evolutionary perspectives in media.

Laura K. Reed, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama, USA, with expertise in evolutionary genomics.

Table of Contents

1. Darwinism in the American South.- 2. Race and Evolution in Antebellum Alabama: The Polygenist Prehistory We’d Rather Ignore.- 3. “The Cadillac of Disclaimers”: Twenty Years of Official Antievolution in Alabama.- 4. Deconstructing the Alabama Disclaimer with Students: A Powerful Lesson in Evolution, Politics, and Persuasion.- 5. Evolution Acceptance among Preservice Science Teachers in the South.- 6. Evolution Acceptance among Undergraduates in the South.- 7. Religion, Politics, and Science for U.S. Southerners.- 8. Sharing News and Views about Evolution in Social Media.- 9. Resources for Teaching Biological Evolution in the Deep South.- 10. Teaching Louisiana Students about Evolution by Comparing the Anatomy of Fishes and Humans.- 11. Teaching Evolution in Real Time.- 12. Trace Fossils of Alabama: Life in the Coal Age.- 13. What Can the Alabama Mississippians Teach Us about Human Evolution and Behavior?.- 14. Tattooing Commitment, Quality, and Football in SoutheasternNorth America.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

The significance of this volume extends far beyond the stated subjects of evolution and the American South. The themes and historical particularism resonate regardless of location, and would be appropriate approaches for any aspect of natural science education. Evolution Education provides a kind of ethnography of science education that illuminates useful approaches for anyone seeking to convey a contested science such as climate change or vaccination. The cultural relevance of science curricular materials has been a neglected area of study and is an important area of growth in the future. Understanding the belief-systems of those who oppose your science helps to build a dialectic dialogue in order to best meet and overcome resistance. Evolution Education achieves this through an assertive, though non-combative presentation of views. An indispensable addition to the literature, my eyes will scan colleagues’ shelves for this book in the future in order to determine if we are likeminded researchers and educators. (K. Lindsay Hunter, Member of the Rising Star Expedition (2013))