Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) is the

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

affiliate of the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an American international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific respons ...

and the National Association of Academies of Science. The organization "fosters scientific discovery and understanding in Kentucky". It is a statewide scientific society serving scientists and science advocates. Projects include various outreach initiatives to advance science literacy in Kentucky and policy advocacy around scientific and educational issues. The KAS has passed resolutions in favor of evolution in 1981, 1983, 1999, and 2005, and have stood up against a series of legislative efforts in Kentucky to undermine science education

History

Kentucky Academy of Science was organized on May 8, 1914 by a group of 46 Kentucky scientists and interested laypersons.

Current activities

The Kentucky Academy of Science, with more than 4000 members, "fosters scientific discovery and understanding in Kentucky." KAS provides funds for scientific research and outreach through grants including the Marcia Athey and Botany Funds, Special Research Program, and Undergraduate Research Program. The ''Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science'', the academy's official journal, is published in the Spring and Fall each year. KAS sponsors the Kentucky Junior Academy of Science each April, for middle and high school students engaged in research. Students with winning presentations are eligible to represent Kentucky as delegates at the American Junior Academy of Science meeting the following February. KAS' Annual Meeting each fall convenes hundreds of scientists and students from around the state and region to present their latest research. KAS operates the Kentucky Science Speakers Bureau, offering expert scientists at no cost to civic organizations, educators, or others, to share their knowledge on a variety of issues. KAS is also active in promoting science literacy through a partnership with the

Kentucky Science Center The Kentucky Science Center, previously known as the Louisville Museum of Natural History & Science and then Louisville Science Center, is Kentucky's largest science museum. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, on "Museum Row" in the West Main Distr ...

, and does state-level policy advocacy around science and education. During the 2005 KAS annual meeting, members voted unanimously to oppose any attempt by the Kentucky legislature or other legislative bodies to mandate specific content of science courses. The KAS specifically objects to legislation that equates " scientific creationism" or "

intelligent design Intelligent design (ID) is a pseudoscientific argument for the existence of God, presented by its proponents as "an evidence-based scientific theory about life's origins". Numbers 2006, p. 373; " Dcaptured headlines for its bold attempt to ...

" with

evolution Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...

as a scientific explanation. The KAS has passed resolutions in favor of evolution in 1981, 1983, 1999, and 2005.

References

External links

Kentucky Academy of Science Home PageGuide to Kentucky Academy of Science Records, 1892-1953
housed at the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center
Kentucky Junior Academy of ScienceKentucky Science Speakers BureauJournal of the Kentucky Academy of Science
{{authority control Education in Kentucky Academies of sciences Science and technology in the United States Science and technology in Kentucky 1914 establishments in Kentucky Scientific organizations established in 1914