Happy Birthday Genie Scott!!!

Posted by Greg Laden on October 24, 2008
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i-53d058bf0625b850176c811c555d90b3-Eugenie_Scott_NCSE.jpgHappy Birthday Genie Scott!

Today is Genie Scott’s birthday. Genie is loved by all in the community of biological scientists because of her central role, as director of the National Center for Science Education, in fighting the good fight against irrational efforts to teach creationism in our public schools and elsewhere. Genie is the author of several books, articles, and book chapters, including Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction and Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design Is Wrong for Our Schools.

I met Genie at a conference (SAA? APA? AAA? Don’t remember). The link was that my then father-in-law had been her professor in graduate school. Later on, I got to know Genie better when I stumbled into the evolution-creation debate. I found myself facing a cadre of well prepared creationists (including one named “Dr. Bible”) and Genie made it possible for me to do battle with them without utterly embarrassing myself.

Today, we all look to Genie and her organization for regular support. We send hapless colleagues to them, use the NCSE as a central clearing house for information, and consult with their members as needed.

Oh, and I owe them a book review. Just remembered. Working on that now…

Anyway, Genie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! And thanks for all the fish!

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Comments

  1. #1 Mad Hussein LOLscientist, FCD
    October 24, 2008

    Ooh, thanks for reminding me.

    Happy birthday, Genie!

  2. #2 Katrina
    October 24, 2008

    Many happy returns of the day, Genie.

  3. #3 Sheril R. Kirshenbaum
    October 24, 2008

    I had the pleasure of meeting Genie this week in MN at Innovation 2008. She gave a wonderful presentation and I really enjoyed our time chatting together. Happy Birthday!

  4. #4 MRL
    October 24, 2008

    I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Scott; nonetheless, Happy Birthday, and keep fighting the good fight!

  5. #5 Eugenie C. Scott
    October 24, 2008

    Wow — thanks, Greg. Those are kind words, indeed. Glad NCSE has been of help — that’s what we’re here for.

    Thanks also to the other well-wishers. I’m getting ready for an NCSE board meeting tomorrow, so the likelihood of getting much time off today is low, but I’ll celebrate this weekend!

  6. #6 thingsbreak
    October 24, 2008

    Happy Birthday! I loved your work in Beware the Believers.

  7. #7 Larry Fafarman
    October 25, 2008

    I say put this genie back in the bottle. She is probably at least partly responsible for the unconstitutional promotion of pro-Darwinist religious views on UC-Berkeley’s “Understanding Evolution for Teachers” website.

    The celebration of Darwin’s birthday was bad enough.

  8. #8 Genie
    October 28, 2008

    Just goes to show — the internet is powerful. Thanks to Greg, PZ, and Phil mentioning my birthday and providing encouragement, NCSE got about 20 new members (and some renewals!) So thanks, Greg, for starting this, and thanks also to his readers!