THE SOCIETY OF SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGISTS (SSB):
SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION AND SCOPE OF SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY

(Approved by SSB Council and Officers, 26 June 2001)

The historical fact of evolution, as common descent with modification for life on earth, and the concepts used to study evolutionary change in living systems, provide the unifying theme for all biological knowledge. This is aptly summarized in Dobzhansky's statement that "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." The corollary that nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of phylogeny is broadly recognized as well.

SSB affirms that evolutionary biology is a fundamental and necessary component of an excellent science education. SSB strongly supports the teaching of evolution and teaching about the process of science in classrooms, museums, and science centers. Modern research in global environmental change, agriculture, medicine, and the spread and control of disease all depend on understanding evolutionary concepts. Thus, understanding biological systems, their evolutionary history and their mechanisms of change is crucial to human health and well-being. Awareness of current views concerning evolutionary biology, including natural selection, is an essential part of modern cultural and scientific literacy for all citizens. Excellence in education requires that teachers and students continually evaluate scientific ideas in light of evidence; however, learning and inquiry are inhibited when educators feel pressured to alter their teaching of fundamental concepts of science in response to demands external to the scientific disciplines.

Systematic biology is the scientific study of the diversity of organisms and of any and all relationships among them.

Concerns of systematic biologists include:

• phylogenetic analysis to produce or test hypotheses of genealogical relationship among groups of organisms, and using those hypotheses to:
• discover patterns of structural, developmental, or molecular evolution;
• learn about processes that underlie the origin and maintenance of taxonomic diversity;
• conduct studies of biogeographical, co-evolutionary, and paleobiological patterns to learn about the diversification, distribution, and extinction of taxa;
• learn about the tempo and mode of evolutionary change;
• conduct studies leading to improved classifications, better methods of taxonomic identification and nomenclatural reform.
  

SSB is dedicated to the advancement of the science of systematic biology in all aspects of theory and practice, for all living and extinct organisms. In its journal, "Systematic Biology", the society publishes original contributions regarding the theory, principles, and methods of systematics as well as evolution, morphology, biogeography, paleontology, genetics, and classification.

SSB encourages its members to stay informed about local science education issues and to promote rigorous and comprehensive teaching in the sciences, including evolutionary biology, for students at all levels. The following list of internet resources (and their links) may aid in this regard.

Defending the Teaching of Evolution in U.S. Public Schools
National Center for Science Education

Evolution and Education Local Listserv Contact Information

The American Institute of Biological Sciences and the National Center for Science Education are pleased to announce that the AIBS/NCSE Evolution List Server Network now has list serves in every state, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Alberta and Ontario, Canada. New list serves were recently launched in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, and Washington DC. The Network enables scientists, teachers, and other supporters of evolution-education to be in touch with each other locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to serving as a support system for some educators teaching evolution in a difficult local environment, the Network facilitates rapid communication and grass-roots activity when school boards or legislatures consider policies that promote the teaching of anti-evolutionary ideas in science classes. The discussions and information shared on each local list serve are at the discretion of the list members and the state list moderator, and are not necessarily those of AIBS or NCSE. Information about these and otherlist serves in the Network is available at AIBS Evolution Listserv Project

Science, Ethics and Religion
AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion

Critiques of Creationism
National Academy of Sciences "Science and Creationism"
Collected reviews of " Darwin's Black Box : The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution"

Resources for Teaching Evolutionary Biology: A Sampler
BioScience Links: Evolution
National Academy of Science USA: Teaching about evolution
U.S. National Science Teachers Assoc.
ENSI
Access Excellence
BBC Education: Evolution
White Paper on "Evolution, Science and Society"
The Talk.Origins Archive
WGBH Public TV series

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