How You Can Support Evolution Education

People often ask us, “How can I further the cause of evolution education?” We've compiled some practical and effective suggestions:

PARENTS

Tell your child’s science teacher that you support evolution and science education.
Ask your child about activities and homework. Be on the lookout for attempts to downplay evolution or introduce creationism.
Suggest science and natural history museum field trips to your child’s teacher, and offer to be a parent driver.

Share your views about evolution with your principal, local school board members, textbook committees, and other relevant authorities.
Encourage local media to ask school board candidates questions about their views on science and evolution education.
Keep an eye on school board meetings to make sure that there are no attempts to compromise the quality of science education.
Donate pro-evolution science books, DVDs, and instructional material to your school’s library and classrooms.
Arrange for local scientists to visit classrooms and laboratories as guest speakers.

Encourage local museums, zoos, parks, and similar informal learning environments to be clear in their support for evolution. Contribute funds to special exhibits, post positive remarks on the organization's website (via forums, blogs, and other social networks), and share the news with others.
Join—or organize—a local citizens science group. (Contact NCSE if you need help.)
Attend—or organize—your local Darwin Day celebration.
When there is controversy in your community, add your voice. Write local officials and journalists; attend (and testify) at local hearings; energize your friends and colleagues to make their voices heard; support local citizen science groups; create Facebook pages, blogs, Twitter feeds, and newsgroups that keep people informed; contribute editorials to local newspapers, websites, and blogs.

Monitor local media for news of antievolution efforts in your state or community.
Let NCSE know if creationism flares up in your vicinity. (info@ncse.com)
Thank print, radio, television, and online journalists for accurate and informative coverage about evolution and evolution education. Encourage and support science education in the media—express your appreciation of evolution-related shows (such as NOVA’s) to the station and the sponsors.
Write positive reviews for good pro-evolution books on Amazon.com and other online bookstores.
Tell friends and colleagues about pro-evolution articles, books, and websites via e-mail, Facebook, MySpace, Yelp, Amazon, Twitter, and other online venues.
Add links on your personal and/or organization's web page to pro-evolution web sites (including ncse.com), articles, blogs, and books.

Visit classrooms, teacher workshops, civic groups, and church groups, to share your expert knowledge.
Ensure that evolution and/or related scientific principles are taught well and thoroughly in your own department, and encourage the creation of informal opportunities for evolution education, such as public lectures and museum exhibits.
Inform your colleagues about ongoing evolution/creationism controversies and the need for their involvement—giving presentations at professional society meetings, writing articles for organization websites, making announcements on e-mail list-serves.
At conferences, organize sessions on evolution education, and provide workshops about evolution education for local teachers (see www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/ncte/twb/).

Suggest adult religious education projects focusing on evolution with your religious leaders.
Encourage your religious leaders to endorse the Clergy Letter Project and to participate in Evolution Weekend.
Encourage your religious leaders to produce educational resources about evolution and religion, and to take a formal stand in support of evolution education.

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