But the bulk of each issue is taken up by longer articles and features. These cover work in evolutionary biology, geology, and other relevant sciences, aspects of creationism and related ideas, issues in the history and philosophy of science, and a broad range of other related topics. The September/October 1997 issue, for example, includes one page pieces on a national assessment of science knowledge and skills in schools, on the "intelligent design" movement, and on the reasons students find science unsatisfying and turn to pseudoscience. Longer pieces include a brief history of speed of light measurements (and an examination of slowdown claims), a report from a University of Alabama forum on the history of creationism, an introduction to Greg Koukl (as a representative of a newer generation of creationists), an explanation of the misconceptions surrounding genetic "Adam" and "Eve" theories, an account of the Plimer/Roberts case, and a letter written by one teacher when asked to show a creationist video in class.
NCSE Reports will be a valuable resource for biology teachers and others on the front line of the battle against creationism. And anyone at all interested in either that conflict or the accompanying debate should find plenty in them to chew on.
September 1998