Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education, has been awarded the Stephen Jay Gould Prize. From the press release:
OAKLAND, CA March 27The Society for the Study of Evolution has honored NCSE's executive director with its first Stephen Jay Gould Prize. Named in memory of paleontologist and popular science writer Stephen Jay Gould, this award recognizes outstanding work in communicating the insights, applications, and importance of evolutionary biology to the general public.
"Dr. Scott has devoted her life to advancing public understanding of evolution. As the executive director of the National Center for Science Education she has been in the forefront of battles to ensure that public education clearly distinguishes science from non-science and that the principles of evolution are taught in all biology courses," said the Gould Prize committee.
"[Dr. Scott] has been an important leader in the public sphere, molding and focusing the efforts of scientists, educators, lay people, religious groups, skeptics, agnostics, believers, scholars, and ordinary citizens through firm but gentle guidance...for these many reasons, it is extremely appropriate that Dr. Scott be the first recipient of the Gould Prize."
Dr. Scott will receive the prize at "Evolution 2009", the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution held at the University of Idaho. She will also present a public lecture, "The Public Understanding of Evolution and the KISS Principle," on June 12th, 8pm, at the meeting.
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