Our History

For over four decades, we have worked to ensure that what is taught in science classrooms and beyond is accurate and consistent with the best current understanding of the scientific community.

1982

National Center for Science Education is founded.

NCSE forms in 1982 with the purpose of serving as a national coordinating center for local grassroots pro-science organizations working to prevent creationism from being taught alongside or instead of evolution.

1987

First full-time employee.

Eugenie C. Scott, a physical anthropologist, becomes the organization’s first Executive Director and its first full-time employee.

1999

Recognition in the New York Times

NCSE is profiled in The New York Times and garners national attention. Related In Schools Across the Land, A Group Mounts Counterattacks on ‘Creation Science’

2005

Kitzmiller vs. Dover

NCSE is a driving force for the plaintiffs in the landmark 2005 case Kitzmiller v. Dover, which established the unconstitutionality of teaching “intelligent design” in public schools. Related Judge Bars "Intelligent Design" from PA Classes

2010

Teacher Support Program Launches

NCSE hires a staff member to focus exclusively on providing support and resources to science teachers. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR TEACHER SUPPORT PROGRAM

2012

Climate Change

NCSE adds climate change to its mission after it becomes clear that politicization of the topic is affecting how it is being taught.

2014

New Executive Director

Ann Reid, director of the American Academy of Microbiology, is named NCSE's new Executive Director.

2014

First National Survey of Climate Change Education

NCSE, with researchers from Penn State University, conducts the first nationwide survey of climate education in public schools, which shows only 30% of science teachers provide their student with the scientific consensus on the human causes of recent climate change. READ OUR WHITE PAPER ABOUT THE SURVEY

2014

2014 NCSETeach Newsletter Launches

NCSE expands its reach to educators with the publication of a monthly newsletter
SIGN UP FOR NCSETEACH

2015

Outreach Program Launches

NCSE pilots its first volunteer-led outreach effort in Iowa City, Iowa. These local affiliates provide accessible and fun evolution and climate change activities and help break down the barriers to science and science education that can sometimes exist in local communities.

2017

First Teacher Ambassadors Named

NCSE unveils a capacity-building model focused on equipping master teachers with high-quality lesson plans and professional development opportunities to give colleagues and peers the skills and confidence they need to teach evolution and climate change. Meet Our Teacher Ambassadors

2014

Analysis of Every State's Climate Change Standards Released

NCSE, in collaboration with the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, releases "Making the Grade?" which analyzes all 50 states' climate change standards and assigns a grade to each from A to F. Learn More About the Study

2021

New Program Names

NCSE updates the names for its three core programs: Investigating Science Education is the new name for its research work, Catalyzing Action defines its efforts to monitor and mobilize against anti-science legislation, and Supporting Teachers encompasses its direct work with science educators.

2022

Misconceptions-based Lessons Launched

NCSE unveils 15 lesson sets, free for any teacher to use, that help students overcome the most common misconceptions about climate change, evolution, and the nature of science.
Download the Lesson Sets

2023

New Executive Director

Amanda L. Townley, an associate professor at Georgia Southern University, is named NCSE's new Executive Director.

How we help

Today, the National Center for Science Education: