XVI International Botanical Congess

Darwin Day at the University of Tennessee started as a reaction to the latest attempt in 1996 by Tennessee=s legislature to interfere with science education in the public schools by inserting religious doctrine into the science curriculum. The Tennessee Darwin Coalition, has for the last three years, promoted educational activities on Charles Darwin=s birthday to counter this threat to science education. A workshop for teachers on the front lines of this controversy provides up-to-date information, innovative classroom approaches and materials, and, most importantly, a support network for teachers under fire. Response to these workshops has exceeded all expectations, and we are experimenting with a variety of formats hoping that teachers will participate year after year. This demonstrates the need for activities like this, the willingness of teachers to participate, and the positive role that university-level scientists can play in secondary education.