Shadow of a Doubt - 2000 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: January 2000
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Featured Article: Who Decides What Science to Teach?

The lead article features William McDonald, Coordinator of the Elementary Science Program for the National Science Foundation and a classroom science teacher in the Montgomery County Public Schools. McDonald is scheduled to speak on Saturday, January 8, 2000, from 2pm to 3:30pm at the Bethesda Public Library. His talk will cover the history of national science education standards, beginning with the 1980s call for standards and the development of products like 'Benchmarks for Science Literacy' and the 'National Science Education Standards.' He will also discuss the process of setting standards at the state level, using Maryland's Science Content Standards and the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program as examples. McDonald will highlight how the state assessment differs from traditional tests and will explain how a local school system develops its curriculum to meet both national and state standards, as well as its own specific needs. McDonald's extensive background includes roles as a science specialist, computer specialist, and NSF Project Specialist. He also serves on the executive board of the Maryland Association of Science Teachers.

Mysterious Science Lecture Series

The Smithsonian is hosting a weekly lecture series titled 'Mysterious Science,' which is of interest to NCAS members. Registration details are available via a provided URL or by phone. The cost is $72 for Smithsonian Associates and $96 for others. The schedule includes:

• January 20, 2000: "Think Like a Scientist" by Chip Denman (University of Maryland).
• January 27, 2000: "Alien Life" by Michael Meyer, PhD (NASA).
• February 3, 2000: "A Reality Check on Cryptic Animals" by George Zug, PhD (Smithsonian Institution).
• February 10, 2000: "Communicating with the Afterlife" by Michael Epstein (Mount Saint Mary's College).
• February 17, 2000: "Science vs. Pseudoscience: The Scorecard" by Robert Parks (American Physical Society).
• February 24, 2000: "Magic and Fooling the Senses" by Jamy lan Swiss (Magician).

The Save Our Schools (SOS) Campaign for Science Education

This section details the 'Save Our Schools' (SOS) Campaign, an internet-based petition drive aimed at urging state boards of education to uphold the teaching of evolution and other sciences that are reportedly threatened by creationist attacks. The Campus Freethought Alliance (CFA), a network of college student groups, is the primary sponsor. Numerous other national organizations, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The American Geophysical Union, Freedom to Read Foundation, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Kansas Citizens for Science, Americans for Religious Liberty, and CSICOP, have supported the campaign. In addition to an online petition, resources are being distributed to CFA campus groups and students to encourage pro-evolution activities. Lectures by Massimo Pigliucci, a professor of evolutionary biology, are being hosted by some campus groups. Collected petition signatures are to be submitted to all 50 U.S. State boards and departments of education just before Charles Darwin's birthday on February 12, 2000. Interested individuals can sign the petition or get involved by visiting the provided website or contacting CFA Coordinator Amanda Chesworth.

Learning Channel Special: "Unexplained Mysteries"

A Learning Channel special titled "Unexplained Mysteries" is scheduled for January 2, 2000, at 10pm and January 8, 2000, at 7pm. The program features consultants, fellows, and staff from CSICOP providing commentary on the top ten paranormal claims in history. Participants include CSICOP Chair Paul Kurtz, Senior Research Fellow Joe Nickell, Public Relations Director Matt Nisbet, Skeptical Inquirer Managing Editor Ben Radford, SRAM editor Lewis Vaughn, and astronomer Michael DeRobertis. They will offer evaluations of claims such as spiritualism, psychic surgery, alien abductions, the Shroud of Turin, UFO sightings, and alternative medicine.

Membership Renewal

The issue concludes with a reminder for members to check their mailing labels for renewal dates. A one-year renewal costs $20 for an individual or $30 for a two-member household, payable to the NCAS address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The NCAS publication consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, emphasizing critical thinking and scientific evidence. This issue highlights the importance of sound science education, the need to counter creationist arguments, and the critical evaluation of paranormal claims. The organization actively engages with educational initiatives and provides a platform for discussions on science, pseudoscience, and the challenges to scientific literacy. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method, as demonstrated by the coverage of CSICOP's involvement in evaluating paranormal claims and the SOS campaign's defense of evolution education.