There were a few articles in the news recently featuring your very own Florida Citizens for Science folks!
Joe Meert is in the news for his science work: Discovery by UF geologist rekindles debate on origins of multi-cellular life
A recent discovery by a University of Florida geologist may lend support to the theory that one of the defining moments of evolution may not have occurred as currently thought.
While studying the ancient microcontinents that make up the geography of central Kazakhstan in Asia, geological sciences professor Joe Meert and colleagues uncovered evidence that multi-cellular organisms may have evolved 100 million years earlier than previously thought, well before the Cambrian Era.
Jonathan Smith participated in a Q&A about his work on behalf of science education: Lithia’s Jonathan Smith discusses evolution debate, state science education standards
Opposition the science community faced then and now is disappointing, Smith said, taking a break from work on his 8-acre Lithia farm. There, he has found peace away from the controversy.
“It’s frustrating to have to debate something when there is really not a question,” he said. “There are not two sides. Science is science. Evolution is fact.”
And my career change got a nice little write-up: Sheriff’s office says ‘goodbye’ to one spokesperson, ‘hello’ to another
WESH 2 News Volusia County Bureau Chief Claire Metz said she always enjoyed working with Mr. Haught.
“Brandon was just great,” she said. “I was always satisfied to the umpteenth degree with him.”
Mr. Haught was no pushover, though, Ms. Metz said, something that she believes will serve him well in the classroom.
“Brandon will never do your job for you,” Ms. Metz said. “You need to know what you’re looking for when you come to him, and I think that will translate really well when he becomes a teacher. He’ll have all the information at his fingertips, but he’ll make the students work and figure things out for themselves to get it.”
Congratulations to everyone!
Re. Jonathon Smith QA: Was very happy to see this interview in the St. Petersburg Times. The matter of poor science education in the US and the assault on the teaching of evolution, especially human evolution, by creationists and others are topics I have been concerned about for years and written about frequently on my blog – http://www.jameselassiter.blogspot.com. (Your comments on any of my posts would be most welcome.) I especially liked Smith’s call for a set of nation-wide science standards. What a firestorm that would start at the US Dept. of Education and elsewhere in Washington! Maybe one day. BTW, Florida’s new standards were also reported on by the National Center for Science Education: http://ncse.com/rncse/28/2/evolution-comes-to-floridas-science-standards. I’m very encouraged and happy to learn about the great work of FCFS!
James, I enjoyed your web blog and thank you for your suport,please feel free to contact the FCS or myself cyjonolds@aol.com if you have any thoughts or questions.
Jonathan