WHAT: The presentation of a new report by Dr. Lawrence S. Lerner, "Good Science, Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States," followed by a press briefing. The report offers the first comprehensive analysis of how each state handles evolution and is the centerpiece of a symposium entitled "The Teaching of Evolution in U.S. Schools: Where Politics, Religion and Science Converge." The event is co-sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.

WHY: At least one-third of the states are doing an unsatisfactory job - many rank in the disgraceful category - when it comes to teaching evolution, which remains one of the most controversial subjects in U.S. education. Lerner's report looks at the current situation in U.S. schools and the causal factors. The daylong symposium expands the discussion to policymakers, scientists, members of the religious community and educators, including a front-line perspective from Lisa Graham Keegan, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

WHEN: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26--Lerner Report Presentation 10:45 a.m. -- Press Briefing
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Symposium (see attached agenda)

WHERE: The AAAS auditorium, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation is a private foundation that supports research, publications and action projects in K-12 education reform at the national level and in the Dayton area. It is neither connected with nor sponsored by Fordham University.

9:00 a.m. Welcome

9:05- The Establishment of Science Education Standards - F. James Rutherford, AAAS Education Advisor

9:20- "Good Science, Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States" - Lawrence S.
Lerner, Professor Emeritus, California State University, Long Beach

9:35- Respondents and open discussion Moderator - Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
Paul R. Gross - University Professor of Life Sciences Emeritus, University of Virginia
Lisa Graham Keegan - Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Warren Nord - Director, Program on Humanities and Human Values, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Eugenie Scott - National Center for Science Education (NCSE)

10:45- Break

11:00- Panel 1 - Teaching evolution in the schools
Moderator - Jim Miller, AAAS/Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER)
Caryn Galatis, Department Head for Science Education, Edison High School, Fairfax, Virginia
Wes McCoy, Department Head for Science Education, North Cobb High School, Kennesaw, Georgia
Jo Ellen Roseman, AAAS Project 2061 (assessment of high school biology texts)

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:15- Panel 2 - Is the anti-evolution movement evolving?
Moderator - Marci Kanstoroom, Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
David Byers - Committee on Science and Human Values, U.S. Catholic Conference
Ted Davis - Professor, History of Science, Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania
Barrett Duke - Vice-President for Research, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention

2:15- Panel 3 - What the public thinks about evolution - and what it knows
Moderator - Jim Miller, AAAS/DoSER
Paul R. Gross - University of Virginia
Jon Miller - Professor, School of Medicine and Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
David Frum - Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

3:30- Break

3:45- Panel 4 - What are current and future political prospects?
Moderator - Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
Kate Beem, Kansas City Star
Steve Rissing, Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University
Eugenie Scott - NCSE

5:00- Adjourn