Eugenie Scott is the executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) based in Oakland California. This non-profit organization monitors the debate over teaching evolution vs. intelligent design in science classrooms around the United States. A physical anthropologist by training Genie has used her passion for understanding evolution to defend its presence in science curricula at public institutions. She has served as a key witness in many court cases since the early 1980’s deciding whether or not to allow creationist learning material to be presented as science. I had the opportunity to sit down with her in the Matter Bookstore office to chat about the history of science education, the rise of Christian fundamentalism in United States, and the nature of ethics. The National Academy of Science recently awarded Eugenie its most prestigious award- the Public Welfare Medal – for her tireless efforts championing the teaching of evolution in the United States and leadership at the NCSE. It was an honor to meet with her and freely exchange ideas.
