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DallasDad · 26th June 2012, 10:23 PM

My company has some funds left for charitable donations. I've suggested NCSE (National Center for Science Education -- Eugenie Scott et al).

In general, do people here think NSCE is effective? Are there other organizations (501(c)(3) charities only) that are more in need? Do you think this is a good use of our (relatively small) fund?

jasonpatterson · 26th June 2012, 10:30 PM

They were a major player in the Kitzmiller trial; it would be hard to back up the claim that they aren't effective. They've recently added climate science to the things that they're willing to defend as well, and are trying to move against the so called "academic freedom" laws. I think that they'd make good use of the money.

The Central Scrutinizer · 27th June 2012, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by DallasDad

My company has some funds left for charitable donations. I've suggested NCSE (National Center for Science Education -- Eugenie Scott et al).

In general, do people here think NSCE is effective?

Yes.

Originally Posted by DallasDad

Are there other organizations (501(c)(3) charities only) that are more in need?

Define "more in need".

Originally Posted by DallasDad

Do you think this is a good use of our (relatively small) fund?

Yes.

DallasDad · 27th June 2012, 07:38 AM

My sense is that NCSE is pretty well known, and probably has supporters with deep pockets.

By "more in need," I meant "doing equally good work, but with a lower profile, and therefore with fewer sources of income."

jasonpatterson · 27th June 2012, 07:27 PM

National Center for Science Education had a budget of roughly $800,000 in 2011. It's not huge, by any stretch of the imagination.

MattusMaximus · 29th June 2012, 10:15 PM

Yes, give the money to NCSE. They not only do good work in terms of defending the teaching of evolution, but they are also now starting to take on climate-change deniers who are messing with school curricula. In this sense, they are getting more into a broad defense of science education in general, and that is sorely needed these days.

DallasDad · 30th June 2012, 11:12 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to go ahead and submit the recommendation for NCSE.

Craig4 · 1st July 2012, 09:53 PM

Pat Robertson hates the NCSE for doing the Spanky Dance on the Dover PA School Board. That's enough for me. I say give them the money just for that alone.

Humes fork · 3rd July 2012, 11:48 AM

Seems like an organization getting measurable work done. I say go for it! Hopefully they will continue to widen their net.

The only thing that disturbs me is their licking up to religion. They should just stay away from religion.

KoihimeNakamura · 3rd July 2012, 11:57 AM

That really isn't an option in America currently. And, honestly, both posts smack to me too much of the atheist complaint : "But, guys, you should really say nothing good about religion!"

Uh.. why? Not everyone agrees with your opinions, guys.

Humes fork · 3rd July 2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by KoihimeNakamura

That really isn't an option in America currently. And, honestly, both posts smack to me too much of the atheist complaint : "But, guys, you should really say nothing good about religion!"

Uh.. why? Not everyone agrees with your opinions, guys.

As one of the atheist scientists write:

Originally Posted by Sean Carroll

In response to this situation, we uncompromising atheists have a typically strident and trouble-making idea: organizations that bill themselves as “centers for science education” and “associations for science” and “academies of science” should not take stances on matters of religion. Outlandish, I know. But we think that organizations dedicated to science should not wander off into theology, even with the best of intentions. Stick with talking about science, and everyone should be happy.

That this is even controversial shows how much we as a culture pay lip-service to faith.

KoihimeNakamura · 3rd July 2012, 12:49 PM

It's not. It's just not a good idea to outright ignore it at that level. Part of the resistance to science IS from religious people.

Humes fork · 5th July 2012, 09:58 AM

That's the beauty of new atheism. It is blunt and doesn't bother with political considerations.

26th June 2012, 10:23 PM	#1
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690	NCSE Donation My company has some funds left for charitable donations. I've suggested NCSE (National Center for Science Education -- Eugenie Scott et al). In general, do people here think NSCE is effective? Are there other organizations (501(c)(3) charities only) that are more in need? Do you think this is a good use of our (relatively small) fund?
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690

26th June 2012, 10:30 PM	#2
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Space, The Final Frontier Posts: 2,197	They were a major player in the Kitzmiller trial; it would be hard to back up the claim that they aren't effective. They've recently added climate science to the things that they're willing to defend as well, and are trying to move against the so called "academic freedom" laws. I think that they'd make good use of the money.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

27th June 2012, 04:49 AM	#3
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,586	Originally Posted by DallasDad My company has some funds left for charitable donations. I've suggested NCSE (National Center for Science Education -- Eugenie Scott et al). In general, do people here think NSCE is effective? Yes. Originally Posted by DallasDad Are there other organizations (501(c)(3) charities only) that are more in need? Define "more in need". Originally Posted by DallasDad Do you think this is a good use of our (relatively small) fund? Yes.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

27th June 2012, 07:38 AM	#4
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690	My sense is that NCSE is pretty well known, and probably has supporters with deep pockets. By "more in need," I meant "doing equally good work, but with a lower profile, and therefore with fewer sources of income."
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690

27th June 2012, 07:27 PM	#5
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Space, The Final Frontier Posts: 2,197	National Center for Science Education had a budget of roughly $800,000 in 2011. It's not huge, by any stretch of the imagination.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

29th June 2012, 10:15 PM	#6
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,204	Yes, give the money to NCSE. They not only do good work in terms of defending the teaching of evolution, but they are also now starting to take on climate-change deniers who are messing with school curricula. In this sense, they are getting more into a broad defense of science education in general, and that is sorely needed these days.
	__________________ Visit my blog: The Skeptical Teacher The Times They Are A-Changin'

30th June 2012, 11:12 PM	#7
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690	Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to go ahead and submit the recommendation for NCSE.
DallasDad Muse Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 690

1st July 2012, 09:53 PM	#8
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,398	Pat Robertson hates the NCSE for doing the Spanky Dance on the Dover PA School Board. That's enough for me. I say give them the money just for that alone.
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,398

3rd July 2012, 11:48 AM	#9
Humes fork Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,479	Seems like an organization getting measurable work done. I say go for it! Hopefully they will continue to widen their net. The only thing that disturbs me is their licking up to religion. They should just stay away from religion.
	__________________ "Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." - Christopher Hitchens

3rd July 2012, 11:57 AM	#10
KoihimeNakamura Creativity Murderer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 6,923	That really isn't an option in America currently. And, honestly, both posts smack to me too much of the atheist complaint : "But, guys, you should really say nothing good about religion!" Uh.. why? Not everyone agrees with your opinions, guys.
	__________________ Don't mind me.

3rd July 2012, 12:29 PM	#11
Humes fork Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,479	Originally Posted by KoihimeNakamura That really isn't an option in America currently. And, honestly, both posts smack to me too much of the atheist complaint : "But, guys, you should really say nothing good about religion!" Uh.. why? Not everyone agrees with your opinions, guys. As one of the atheist scientists write: Originally Posted by Sean Carroll In response to this situation, we uncompromising atheists have a typically strident and trouble-making idea: organizations that bill themselves as “centers for science education” and “associations for science” and “academies of science” should not take stances on matters of religion. Outlandish, I know. But we think that organizations dedicated to science should not wander off into theology, even with the best of intentions. Stick with talking about science, and everyone should be happy. That this is even controversial shows how much we as a culture pay lip-service to faith.
	__________________ "Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." - Christopher Hitchens

3rd July 2012, 12:49 PM	#12
KoihimeNakamura Creativity Murderer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 6,923	It's not. It's just not a good idea to outright ignore it at that level. Part of the resistance to science IS from religious people.
	__________________ Don't mind me.

5th July 2012, 09:58 AM	#13
Humes fork Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,479	That's the beauty of new atheism. It is blunt and doesn't bother with political considerations.
	__________________ "Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." - Christopher Hitchens