Kansas Citizens For Science: Advocating for Science Education and Public Understanding

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Kansas Citizens for Science (KCFS) is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding and appreciation of science. Since its inception, KCFS has been actively involved in advocating for science education, educating the public about the nature and value of science, and serving as an information resource. Through various activities such as testifying at meetings, staging events, and forming coalitions, KCFS continues to uphold its mission of supporting science in Kansas and beyond.

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Communication for Science Activists Kansas Citizens For Science www.kcfs.org Facebook

Involvement News carried story about creationist threat. Testified at next BOE meeting. Met others who were becoming activists. My concern was separation of church and state (and still is).

Birth of KCFS 70+ activists met at KU to form an organization. Eventually, a core group formed KCFS. KCFS became a 501(c)3 with Bylaws. Monthly meetings in Topeka, the first Sunday after the first Wednesday (after the BOE meeting)

KCFS Early Activities National science activists meeting Activists from seven states Genie Scott, Rob Pennock, others No tangible products of that meeting, but meeting other activists face-to-face was important. KCFS has been helped by New Mexicans for Science and Reason, for example.

KCFS Purpose Statement Kansas Citizens For Science is a not-for- profit educational organization that promotes a better understanding of what science is, and does, by: Advocating for science education Educating the public about the nature and value of science Serving as an information resource

KCFS Activities Testifying at monthly BOE meetings Staging events Darwin s Birthday parties at KU and in KC Scopes Week Events in 5 Kansas towns around 75thanniversary of Scopes Trial. Flyers, news releases, volunteers. Evolution 101 class by KCFS Pres. Jack Krebs

KCFS Activities (contd.) Coalitions and volunteers are important. Scopes Week sponsors included KCFS, Mainstream Coalition, and Kansas humanist groups. Volunteers in each Scopes Week town distributed flyers, appeared on radio, gave news interviews and organized appearances.

KCFS PR As media/PR person for KCFS: Gathered list of media contacts Wrote a weekly, then monthly, email newsletter distributed to news outlets and others interested Had an article in NCSE Reports The first Darwin Day book included an article by me.

KCFS Today Sponsoring Science Cafes in several Kansas towns Well attended Facebook: We post Sci Caf and other events on our FB page, as well as interesting articles on science and/or education. Staying in touch with BOE members and knowing what s going on at BOE meetings

KCFS Today (contd.) KATS Kamp: Kansas Association of Teachers of Science. We do presentations there. KATS Kamp: Also award scholarships to teachers and their mentors to attend. We continue to meet, now every other month. We stay in touch via a listserve in between.