…and this is a 
A promising new organization: COPUS
Category: Science
Posted on: August 28, 2007 8:07 AM, by PZ Myers
Look into this one, everyone: the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS), another attempt to coordinate efforts to improve public outreach and science education. They have some worthy goals:
- Building the COPUS network - Underpinning the COPUS effort is a growing network of organizations and individuals who share a common goal: engaging sectors of the public in science and increasing their appreciation and understanding of the scientific enterprise. Find out more about participating in the COPUS Network.
- Developing state-level benchmark science-indicator reports on the importance of science to the U.S. economy and standard-of-living
- Supporting a national effort to promote the public understanding of science in a year-long celebration: Year of Science 2009 (also available: Year of Science 2009 fact sheet [PDF])
- Integrating efforts with the Understanding Science website project currently under development at the University of California, Berkeley
If you're involved with any kind of scientific outreach organization, register with them — they've got a long list of science groups. I particularly like the fact that they're herding together a grassroots effort to celebrate a Year of Science in 2009, the Darwin bicentennial year, since there doesn't seem to be any national leadership on the issue otherwise.
Comments
COPUS is a great concept. They should bring Richard Dawkins into the US for a series of nationwide seminars, as that is his field.
Denis C
Posted by: Denis Castaing | August 28, 2007 9:05 AM
This reminds me of The Clergy Letter Project - brainchild of Michael Zimmerman of Butler University and NCSE:
http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/US/380_the_clergy_letter_project_want_8_23_2007.asp
All these sort of initiatives are great ideas worth spreading the news around.
Posted by: h3nry | August 28, 2007 9:09 AM
Posted by: Jeff Alexander | August 28, 2007 9:21 AM
Alas, I'm not, so I can't.
I'm non COPUS mentis.
Posted by: Warren | August 28, 2007 11:30 AM
Thanks for pointing this out PZ. The members and board of the Kansas Citizens for Science have recently contacted them and are looking at ways to work together.
COPUS seems to be a great organization at the national level, along with NCSE and others.
Cheers.
Posted by: Fastlane | August 28, 2007 12:00 PM
New?
COPUS has been around for donkey's years (ok, established in 1986). You mean some upstart US organisation is trying to appropriate the acronym for itself?
Mind you the original COPUS seems quiet...maybe it died.
Posted by: James Annan | August 28, 2007 9:28 PM