NCSE promotes evolution education

September 29 through October 6 marks the American Libraries Association's Banned Books week. In honor of this event, I did a brief database search on the censorship and science. One idea the emerged was the national discussion on evolution versus creationism/ intelligent design in science classrooms of public schools. Therefore, I decided to introduce a Web site that, in the organization's words, educates "the press and public about the scientific, educational, and legal aspects of the creation and evolution controversy, and supply needed information and advice to defend good science education at local, state, and national levels." This organization is the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). Often in my library instruction, I discuss the evaluation of Web sites and their possible bias. In this vein, I would like to note that this organization is firmly on the side of evolution as necessity in science classrooms. Therefore, arguments for the teaching of creationism are not present.

The Web site for NSCE includes news on the debate divided by state and national issues, an events pages, and a resources page. In addition, the journal of the organization Creation/Evolution Journal is available in full text from 1980-1990. Furthermore, full text to some important works on this topic are also available, such as Eugenie C. Scott's article "Antievolutionism and Creationism in the United States" (Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 1997. 26:263-89).