Accepting Evolution

Anusuya Chinsamy and Éva Plagányi

Cape Town, South AfricaCape Town, South AfricaUniversity ofUniversity of

EVOLUTIONEVOLUTION

“Contentious” ” “Troubling”“Troubling” “Controversial”“Controversial”

Challenges religious beliefs and values

Farmer, P. (1979) Beginnings: Creation Myths of Farmer, P. (1979) Beginnings: Creation Myths of the World. Atheneum, New Yorkthe World. Atheneum, New York

Hamilton, V. (1988) In the Beginning: CreationHamilton, V. (1988) In the Beginning: CreationStories from around the world. Harcourt, Brace, Stories from around the world. Harcourt, Brace, Javanovich, San Diego.Javanovich, San Diego.

Many different religions- many ideas about Many different religions- many ideas about how the world was created.how the world was created.

CENTRAL IDEA OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION: CENTRAL IDEA OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION: All life on Earth shares a common ancestorAll life on Earth shares a common ancestor

Through process of descent with modification,Through process of descent with modification,the common ancestor diversity of life the common ancestor diversity of life on earth.on earth.

Scientific view (i.e. involves observation, hypothesis andScientific view (i.e. involves observation, hypothesis andTesting):Testing):

1. Life has a history i.e. it changed over time1. Life has a history i.e. it changed over time

2. Different species share common ancestors2. Different species share common ancestors

2009 = Darwin 200

Charles Darwin (1809- 1882)

Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)

1831: 1831: - post as naturalist (unpaid!) on the - post as naturalist (unpaid!) on the H.M.SH.M.S.. Beagle Beagle- Voyage around the world lasted about 5 years- Voyage around the world lasted about 5 years

- Collected a wide range of plants, insects, - Collected a wide range of plants, insects, and animals, incl. fossils. Also studied and animals, incl. fossils. Also studied geological formations.geological formations.

Significance of Darwin’s hypothesisSignificance of Darwin’s hypothesis

1. Provides volume of evidence that evolution occurs1. Provides volume of evidence that evolution occurs

2. Provides a mechanism for how evolution occurs i.e.2. Provides a mechanism for how evolution occurs i.e. through natural selectionthrough natural selection

3. Unifying theory for biology- explains why related3. Unifying theory for biology- explains why related organisms are similar; explains relationship betweenorganisms are similar; explains relationship between structure and function; leads to testable hypothesesstructure and function; leads to testable hypotheses

Resistance to the science of evolutionary biology Resistance to the science of evolutionary biology

Driven by:

•proponents of intelligent design

• perceived incompatibilities between evolution and a diversity of religious faiths

“before/after” survey of 1st year students in Faculty of Science

assess their background knowledge on the subject

2006 -attitudes of the first year students to learning about evolution

Student body Good mix of race; gender; religions

Generally about 18 years

High achieving students

Evolution – only taught in schools in SA since 2009

SURVEY

Right/wrong Anonymous Code-names

17 questions; ranked in 5 categories: Strongly agree; Agree; Don’t know/neutral; Disagree; Strongly disagree.

1 X Express a view

94 Before and After questionaires; matched code-names

a) Religious-based questions concerning evolution;b) Questions probing fundamental understanding of evolution concepts; c) Scientific facts regarding evolution d) Fallacious questions to test the quality of responses.

d) Quality of responses

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Before After

Fallacious questions to test the quality of responses.

b) Understanding

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Questions probing fundamental understanding of evolution concepts

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c) Scientific facts

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Before After

Scientific facts regarding evolution

a) Religious-based

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Before After

Religious-based questions concerning evolution

-9%

15%35%

Evolution is the creator'smethod of creation.

Evolution is a scientific idea thatexplains biodiversity of life onearth.

The earth is 4.5 billion yearsold.

% Change in Before and After responses

.

“I found it interesting. One of those things I heard people talk about but never really took seriously. Now I found all the evidence towards it fascinating and convincing.”

“It is very necessary and I appreciate it.”

“It was a great experience. It is a privilege to learn and understand a scientific explanation for the origin of biodiversity and a much more believable explanation than any religious propositions.

“I am looking forward to it.”

“I have an interest in learning about it but I do not believe in it!”

“I enjoyed it thoroughly, it was an eye-opener! It explains a lot. I understand it better and it’s very fascinating.

BEFORE AFTER

“I feel that my personal beliefs and strong faith will contradict what I am taught, but I am willing to be open-minded.”

BEFORE

“Its been quite interesting getting different people’s views on things. My opinion of evolution changed (but I still don’t agree with).”

AFTER

Educators need to be aware of the challenges facing the understanding of Evolution

•Actively engage with students preconceptions

•Relevance to society today

•Scientific method

•Workshops for teachers

““There is grandeur in this view of life, …..There is grandeur in this view of life, …..from so simple a beginning endless forms mostfrom so simple a beginning endless forms mostbeautiful and most wonderful have been, and arebeautiful and most wonderful have been, and arebeing evolved.”being evolved.”

Darwin 1859Darwin 1859