Chattanooga State’s Biology Club, science class students, as well as science faculty and staff, observed Charles Darwin’s 206th birthday on February 12 with a series of fun events on campus.
Anyone arriving for class in the Omniplex building could not help but notice Darwin Day sidewalk chalk art. Once inside, there were a number of bulletin board displays and a special Darwin Day scavenger hunt in place designed to challenge students.
According to Biology faculty member Carolyn Dodson, “Darwin Day is about more than just Charles Darwin. It’s about celebrating intellectual curiosity and scientific thinking. It’s about the human hunger for truth.” Ms. Dodson teaches General Biology, as well as a biology course for aspiring elementary teachers. “I see first-hand the importance and necessity of promoting sound scientific thinking, beginning with our elementary students.”
According to Chattanooga State representatives, Biology Club students were excited to participate. Returning adult student Andy Paul has taken a particular interest in the club and helped with the Omniplex displays. Although taking a rigorous 20-hour course load, he’s also interested in participating in extracurricular activities, hoping to get the most of his college experience. Having spent several years as a professional ball player and as a medical sales representative, he has returned to school in order to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant.
Chattanooga State representatives noted that Darwin’s name is not without controversy. The famous Scopes Trial pitting science against religion occurred just up the road in Dayton, TN back in 1925. Darwin’s name continues to be an unfortunate symbol for those who see a conflict between evolution and religious faith. One of Chattanooga State’s Faculty Fellows, David Wollert, is currently producing a documentary film addressing the relationship between science and religion. Wollert teaches microbiology and plans to have the film completed later this spring. According to Wollert, “Science represents a universal and cross-cultural language of sorts. As such, it has the potential to help bring cultures of diverse religious faiths together. That’s a major point of the film and one of the main reasons I chose to produce it.”
For information about Darwin Day or Chattanooga State’s Biology Club, please contact Carolyn Dodson, David Wollert, or Margaret Venable via the Math and Science Division at 423.697.4442 or visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/mathematics-sciences.