Dr. Brian Alters
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Chapman University
United States of America
Biography
President, Board of Directors, National Center for Science Education (NCSE). 2012 • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Biological Science section. 2012 • National Medal -- McNeil Medal – from the Royal Society of Canada (equivalent to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences). Awarded to one individual annually “who has demonstrated outstanding ability to promote and communicate science to students and public nationally.” 2009 • TV Host of a prime-time, nationally-broadcast, commercial television series viewed by millions. Project X, a PBS-like science magazine show with the mandate to educate the public about science, airs on CBC, BBC, and PBS stations. 2008 • Expert Witness in U.S. Federal Trial: Dr. Alters was recruited as one-of-six Expert Witnesses in the largest, most important, and highest profile federal trial on science education in the past quarter-century. 2005 • Held an $8 million endowed Chair and project in Science Education, Faculty of Science, McGill University. 2005-2011. • $3,255,000 funding ($2,035,000 funded as PI in grants, awards, and contracts; and directing an extra $1.25 million from 2005-2010.) • Published 5 books in the past decade on education, science, and religion. • Delivered over 300 talks worldwide (e.g., France, Russia, China, Harvard, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Russian Pedagogical University, National Academy of Sciences to the AERA, National Institutes of Health, American Society of Human Genetics, Royal Society of Canada.) • Director (and Founder), Evolution Education Research Center. 2001 - present • Winner of McGill University’s President’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching. 2003 • Simultaneous international appointments at Chapman, McGill, and Harvard universities. Current.
Research Interest
Science Education (focus in biological evolution education)