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Accepting Evolution

Accepting Evolution. Anusuya Chinsamy and Éva Plagányi. University of. Cape Town, South Africa. EVOLUTION. “Contentious ” “Troubling” “Controversial”. Challenges religious beliefs and values. Many different religions- many ideas about how the world was created.

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Accepting Evolution

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  1. Accepting Evolution Anusuya Chinsamy and Éva Plagányi University of Cape Town, South Africa

  2. EVOLUTION “Contentious” “Troubling”“Controversial” Challenges religious beliefs and values

  3. Many different religions- many ideas about how the world was created. Farmer, P. (1979) Beginnings: Creation Myths of the World. Atheneum, New York Hamilton, V. (1988) In the Beginning: Creation Stories from around the world. Harcourt, Brace, Javanovich, San Diego.

  4. Scientific view (i.e. involves observation, hypothesis and Testing): CENTRAL IDEA OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION: All life on Earth shares a common ancestor Through process of descent with modification, the common ancestor diversity of life on earth. 1. Life has a history i.e. it changed over time 2. Different species share common ancestors

  5. Charles Darwin (1809- 1882) 2009 = Darwin 200

  6. Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882) 1831: - post as naturalist (unpaid!) on the H.M.S. Beagle - Voyage around the world lasted about 5 years - Collected a wide range of plants, insects, and animals, incl. fossils. Also studied geological formations.

  7. Significance of Darwin’s hypothesis 1. Provides volume of evidence that evolution occurs 2. Provides a mechanism for how evolution occurs i.e. through natural selection 3. Unifying theory for biology- explains why related organisms are similar; explains relationship between structure and function; leads to testable hypotheses

  8. Resistance to the science of evolutionary biology Driven by: • proponents of intelligent design • perceived incompatibilities between • evolution and a diversity of religious faiths

  9. Evolution – only taught in schools in SA since 2009 2006 - attitudes of the first year students to learning about evolution assess their background knowledge on the subject “before/after” survey of 1st year students in Faculty of Science Student body Good mix of race; gender; religions Generally about 18 years High achieving students

  10. SURVEY Right/wrong Anonymous Code-names 17 questions; ranked in 5 categories: Strongly agree; Agree; Don’t know/neutral; Disagree; Strongly disagree. • Religious-based questions concerning evolution; • Questions probing fundamental understanding of evolution concepts; • Scientific facts regarding evolution • Fallacious questions to test the quality of responses. 1 X Express a view 94 Before and After questionaires; matched code-names

  11. Fallacious questions to test the quality of responses.

  12. Questions probing fundamental understanding of evolution concepts

  13. Scientific facts regarding evolution

  14. Religious-based questions concerning evolution

  15. % Change in Before and After responses

  16. . BEFORE AFTER “It was a great experience. It is a privilege to learn and understand a scientific explanation for the origin of biodiversity and a much more believable explanation than any religious propositions. “It is very necessary and I appreciate it.” “I found it interesting. One of those things I heard people talk about but never really took seriously. Now I found all the evidence towards it fascinating and convincing.” “I am looking forward to it.” “I enjoyed it thoroughly, it was an eye-opener! It explains a lot. I understand it better and it’s very fascinating. “I have an interest in learning about it but I do not believe in it!”

  17. “I feel that my personal beliefs and strong faith will contradict what I am taught, but I am willing to be open-minded.” BEFORE “Its been quite interesting getting different people’s views on things. My opinion of evolution changed (but I still don’t agree with).” AFTER

  18. Educators need to be aware of the challenges facing the understanding of Evolution • Actively engage with students preconceptions • Relevance to society today • Scientific method • Workshops for teachers

  19. “There is grandeur in this view of life, ….. from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.” Darwin 1859

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