EVO
Ten
Questions Everyone Should Ask About Evolution
an
independent science DVD
“EVO”
is an educational DVD designed for use in high school biology
classes that explains—through the words of top evolutionary
biologists and thinkers—the process of evolution. Through
interviews, narration, stunning cinematography, and explanatory
animation, the film presents clear and accurate answers to
the “questions everyone should ask about evolution,”
while maintaining a lively mood through its graphic approach
and contemporary music.
The DVD grew out
of the World Summit on Evolution that was held in June 2005
on the Galapagos Islands. Hosted by the Universidad San Francisco
de Quito (www.usfq.edu.ec)
and its Galapagos Academic Institute of Arts and Sciences,
the Summit brought together the world’s most important
evolutionary scientists for discussions and debate.
“EVO”
is much more than a linear presentation – it is ten
interconnected short films which can be accessed independently.
Each has interactive options for “drilling-down”
which allow teachers to fit the DVD’s contents into
their curricula, time constraints and teaching styles. The
DVD’s total content time is around 80 minutes.
Hummingbird Films
is collaborating with BSCS (www.bscs.org),
a well-respected leader in biology education, to ensure that
the DVD is a useful standards-based teaching tool. BSCS will
produce a teachers’ guide and workbook to accompany
the DVD. EVO has a stellar review committee of evolutionary
scientists to oversee the accuracy of the production as well
as an advisory committee of high school biology teachers.
All the educators we have consulted confirm that there is
a real need for a product like EVO in the classroom.
For fifty years
BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Studies) has been improving
students’ understanding of science by developing and
supporting the distribution of exemplary curricular materials,
providing professional teacher development and conducting
research and evaluation studies. They are an acknowledged
leader in evolution education.
While EVO is primarily
designed to educate at the high school and introductory college
level, we are also planning a “family” version,
which creates a bridge between home and school.
Not since the Scopes
Monkey Trial of 1925 has evolution and evolutionary theory
captured so much national attention. Yet a reading of current
newspaper and web articles reveals a profound misunderstanding
of evolution and its processes, and, more importantly, the
role of science and biology in society. “EVO –
Ten Questions Everyone Should Ask About Evolution” works
to clear up these misunderstandings.
The
Ten Questions (draft)
What is evolution? Is evolution a theory?
What
was Darwin’s big idea?
What's
the controversy about Darwin's ideas?
What
is science?
So
what is natural selection?
How
are variations inherited?
Where
do the inheritable variations come from?
Is
evolution random?
What
is a species? Where do new species come from?
What's
a brief history of life?
Why
should anyone care about evolution?
The Scientists:
“EVO” includes interviews and participation
from:
Prof. Leticia Aviles (University of British Columbia, Canada)
Prof. William Calvin (University of Washington, USA)
Prof. Daniel Dennett (Tufts University, USA)
Prof. Douglas Futuyma (State University of New York-Stony
Brook, USA)
Dr. Niles Eldredge (American Museum of Natural History, USA)
Prof. Pierre-Henri Gouyon (Université Paris-Sud, France)
Prof. Peter Grant (Princeton University, USA)
Prof. Rosemary Grant (Princeton University, USA)
Prof. Laura Katz (Smith College, USA)
Prof. Antonio Lazcano (Universidad Autónoma de México,
Mexico)
Prof. Lynn Margulis (University of Massachusetts-Amherst,
USA)
Prof. Geoff McFadden (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Prof. Richard Michod (University of Arizona, USA)
Prof. William Provine (Cornell University, USA)
Prof. Joan Roughgarden (Standford University, USA)
Prof. Samuel Scheiner (National Science Foundation, USA)
Dr. Michael Shermer (Skeptic Magazine, USA)
Prof. Frank Sulloway (University of California-Berkeley, USA)
Co-Producers:
John Feldman, President
Hummingbird Films, New York
Contact: jfeldman@hummingbirdfilms.com
Rodger
Bybee, Executive Director
BSCS, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dr.
Carlos Montufar, President
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Hugo Burgos, Dean
USFQ, College of Communications and Contemporary Arts
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