Contact me if you are interested in the

proposal by Bob Field for

Evolution Workshop #1 for State Park Docents

Natural History Museum Auditorium Saturday, Month, xx, 2006, 10 am - noon

Led by docents Bob Field and Marion Enfield with Natural History Museum Manager Rouvaishyana

Evolutionary processes determine the composition, structure, and functions of natural systems

State Policies and Goals

Facts and Theories

Choices for Docents

It is a fact that physical and biological systems evolve. The workshop is intended to help all state park docents in our district understand evolution and handle controversies related to the interpretation of evolutionary aspects of nature. The format will include some introductory lecture material but will emphasize questions and discussions by all participants who wish to express themselves. The science content will be minimal but references to books and websites will be provided for those who seek further study.

Possible discussion topics:

1. What is state park policy on evolution and creationist theories?

2. Does science in general and evolution in particular enhance the public’s appreciation of our state parks?

3. Should state parks concentrate on environmental education and avoid unpopular science themes?

4. What are the facts of evolution and what are the current scientific theories?

5. Is intelligent design a scientific theory? Does life represent an unnatural irreducible complexity?

6. Should docents discuss evolution when it advances the theme of their natural history interpretation?

7. Is it better for docents to use euphemisms like adaptations and avoid the word evolution?

8. Should docents discuss their personal beliefs or try to correct visitors’ incorrect beliefs?

9. Should docents discuss evolution if it makes them uncomfortable or conflicts with their beliefs?

10. Should the natural history museum host a lecture series on evolution for docents or for the public?

The subject of evolution is much in the news. The universe appears to have evolved naturally for 13.7 billion years from the Big Bang to human civilization. Most people do not believe this because it conflicts with their beliefs, hopes, and personal experience. The National Academy of Sciences says that the job of science is to provide plausible natural explanations for natural phenomena. The same phrase applies to natural history. State parks have always been supportive of science, but most docents have limited training in science and may not know how to deal with potentially controversial subjects or may not want to deal with them.

Evolution is only a controversy for non-scientists. State park policy is not discussed very often and most docents shy away from evolution or use euphemistic language like adaptations. States that avoid the e-word in their science standards are rated F. California’s standards are rated A, but our classrooms may fall short of the standards. “Evolution is the central organizing principle of all of the historical sciences”: not just biology, but geology and astronomy as well. “Almost all of science is the study of the evolution of systems in time.” In short, evolution is the defining process of virtually all physical and biological systems. Everything evolves. Evolution does not mean that things improve or make progress, but complexity does result from evolution when energy flows under non-equilibrium conditions. This fact underlies Sussman’s Guide to Planet Earth.

Bob Field has examined the evolution of many physical and biological systems and uses thematic interpretation to explain how complex systems evolve. Marion Enfield has brought evolution into the classroom and has helped produce training materials for our docents. Hopefully Rouvaishyana will attend the workshop and encourage docent participation, especially school docents and walk docents. If this effort succeeds, then we can invite rangers, teachers, students, school officials, political leaders, and the general public to future programs.