Jim Bandoli: Celebrating Darwin’s 200th
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Dr. Jim Bandoli assists a student in a Biology course. |
Dr. Jim Bandoli, professor of biology, has a hand in many of the community events surrounding this month’s bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his Origin of Species.
Bandoli has been instrumental in bringing Dr. Kenneth Miller to campus. Miller, professor of biology at Brown University, will present the University Core Curriculum Speaker Series spring 2009 lecture, “Darwin, God, and Design: America’s Continuing Problem with Evolution,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, in Carter Hall in the University Center.
According to Bandoli, Miller is “generally considered one of the most eloquent defenders of evolution.” In 2005, Miller was the expert witness in Kitzmiller et al vs. Dover (Pennsylvania) Area School District on the question of whether intelligent design is a religious belief or a scientific theory. It was ruled in the case that intelligent design is a form of creationism and can’t be taught in schools under the first amendment. Miller is the author of Finding Darwin’s God and Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul.
On February 12, Darwin’s birthday, Bandoli will present “Charles Darwin: In his Own Words” at 3:30 p.m. in Forum III in the Wright Administration Building. His lecture will be an overview of Darwin’s life using quotes from his writings. “It’s going to concentrate on what he was like and a little bit less on what he accomplished,” Bandoli said. “I thought it would be a nice counterpoint to give a little insight on what he was like.” Birthday cake will be served.
Dr. Rex Strange, assistant professor of biology, will present “Darwin, Evolution, and the Species Problem” at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 26, in Forum III. Strange will compare Darwin’s concept of species with modern conceptions of the term and discuss its implications. “Even though the book is called Origin of Species, we still have trouble defining exactly what a species is,” Bandoli said.
Bandoli has taught organic evolution at USI for the length of his 26-year tenure. He said controversies over the teaching of evolution are not an issue in his class, but added, “I know for a fact that even among biology majors in upper level classes, there’s a significant number of them that if you ask them what they believe, they’ll tell you some form of creationism. That’s fine. I’m not going to change their beliefs. That’s not my intention. My intention is that they leave my organic evolution class knowing something about evolution, and more importantly, why it’s science and why it belongs in public school science classes.”
He is periodically compelled to respond to letters published in the local newspaper. “Usually that comes as a result of someone arguing that we shouldn’t teach evolution in schools, or we should teach creationism as science, which it isn’t,” he said. He’s written a half-dozen letters to the editor in response to such arguments.
“I only respond publically when creationism advocates want to change what is taught in public school science classes, because it’s important to support science teachers. They have a hard enough job without having to defend what they are teaching to parents who object on religious grounds. Fortunately, organized public objections to teaching evolution are not as common here as they are elsewhere.”
Bandoli chairs the science committee that advises staff at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science, which also is offering Darwin bicentennial events this month, beginning with the current exhibition, “The Legacy of Charles Darwin,” which runs through May. “Flock of Dodos,” a video about evolution and intelligent design, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 12.
Dr. Eugenie Scott will present “Darwin’s Legacy in Science and Society” at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 28 at the museum. Scott, an anthropologist, heads up the nonprofit National Center for Science Education based in Berkeley, California. Bandoli said, “They have become a clearinghouse of information about the issue of teaching evolution and attempts – either at the level of local school boards, state school boards, or state legislatures – to water down the teaching of evolution, or slide in some version of creationism.”
Bandoli has been recognized for his teaching in the classroom – he was the recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award in 1997 – but he also is an advocate for science in the community. In addition to his work for the museum’s science committee, he gives talks about biology and careers in the field to high school classes; has been active in local environmental organizations; has served as a judge for the Tri-State Regional Science Fair since 1987; participates in area bird counts; and co-chaired the master plan subcommittee for the Evansville Zoo Blue Ribbon Committee.
Bandoli earned his Ph.D. from University of New Mexico, master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, and bachelor’s degree from University of San Diego. He is a fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science and member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Society for the Study of Evolution, and International Society for Behavioral Ecology.
At USI, he has served on and/or chaired the Faculty and Academic Affairs Committee, Faculty Senate, Student and Academic Affairs Committee, Promotions Committee, Core Curriculum Committee, and Financial Aid Appeals Committee. He has served as a Foundation Board Faculty Representative; was the Science and Ecology Club advisor; has organized the Honors Symposium; and is the curator of USI’s collection of vertebrates.
Wendy Knipe Bredhold
News & Information Services
812/461-5259 or wkbredhold@usi.edu
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