At the JREF, we're pleased as punch to find out that National Center for Science Education executive director (and two-time TAM speaker) Genie Scott has been named by Scientific American as one of the leaders in science education today. This award, called the Scientific American 10, recognizes outstanding people "who have recently demonstrated outstanding commitment to assuring that the benefits of new technologies and knowledge will accrue to humanity."
On their page honoring her, they said:
Eugenie Scott has emerged as one of the most prominent advocates for keeping evolution an integral part of the curriculum in public schools in her role as head of the nonprofit National Center for Science Education (NCSE).
We at the JREF couldn't agree more. Genie, who spoke at TAMs 2 and 5, is a tireless defender of evolution and its teaching in the classroom. She and the NCSE have fought creationists in many states, and are in many ways responsible for keeping back the rising number of politicians trying to wedge religious teaching into the public school system.
At the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial in 2005 -- where creationists used thinly disguised Intelligent Design arguments as a wedge to get religion taught in schools and to downplay evolution -- the work of Genie and the NCSE loomed large as consultants for the plaintiffs, and were a major reason the creationists not only lost that case, but did so resoundingly. This is why I personally call Genie one of the Heroes of Dover.
Our heartfelt congratulations to Genie, and of course to Scientific American for showing excellent taste.