Newswise — Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education and a prominent defender of teaching evolution in school classrooms, will give a free public talk at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington on Wednesday (Sept. 21) from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A reception will follow.

Scott's talk, "The Pillars of Creationism and the Teaching of Evolution," is sponsored by 19 Bloomington campus groups.

On Thursday (Sept. 22) at 4 p.m. in Myers Hall, Room 140, Scott will give a second talk, "Tracking Those Incredible Creationists: Adventures as a Public Scientist," as part of the IUB Department of Biology's Joan Wood Lecture Series.

During her three-day visit to Bloomington, Scott will meet with several Indiana K-12 teachers and administrators to discuss how evolution should be taught in their classrooms. She will also meet with IU science education experts, biologists, bioethicists and students. While these meetings are closed to the public, contact information for participants will be available upon request.

WHO: Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the Oakland, Calif.-based National Center for Science Education

WHAT: "The Pillars of Creationism and the Teaching of Evolution"

WHEN: Wednesday (Sept. 21) from 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm.

WHERE: IU Auditorium, IU Bloomington campus (1211 E. Seventh St.)

Scott will be available to media shortly after the lecture. She will also be available for in-person interviews on Wednesday (Sept. 21) between 1:45 and 2:45 p.m. Parking will be available for television crews.

Scott will be directly involved in the Dover, Pa., court case involving the teaching of "intelligent design" alongside evolution in their public schools. She is reachable by telephone before, during, and after her Bloomington, Ind., visit.