The Real Charles Darwin by Jim Strayer
Sunday · February 8 · Noon - 2:00
The Real Charles Darwin by Jim Strayer
Feburary 12, 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the Charles Dwarin’s birth. Although several good books have been written about Darwin, and his life is well researched, it is still surprising how few people know about this man who changed human thought forever. The events of the time and his personal life cast him as the perfect person to break to mold of creation and champion evolution. This is a personal view of his family, friends, and enemies.
Born and raised in Adrian, Michigan, Jim Strayer earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Michigan. Since earning these degrees, he has attended Pratt University in New York to study chemistry, Wayne State University in Detroit to study ecology, and Michigan State University to study environmental problems. He has thirty-four years of teaching experience; twelve at the high school level and twenty-two at the community college level. He was given the “Outstanding Teacher Award” at Washtenaw Community College in 1985.
He and his wife, Bobbe, have made their home in Ormond-By-The-Sea, Florida since 1988. He is past president of The Humanists of Northeast Florida, served as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Atheists of Florida and is a member of the American Atheists. He was also the liaison for the National Center for Science Education, Inc. representing central Florida.
Jim has had a great deal of experience teaching evolution at the high school and community college level. It was the effort of the creationists to invade the biological sciences in public schools that persuaded him to begin lecturing on subjects related to the evolution/creation issues. Defending Charles Darwin is his passion and he spent ten days in London researching Charles Darwin at Darwin's home, the Darwin Museum, and the Museum of Natural History.
His most recent publications are: The Scopes Evolution Trial; The Battle Continues, Humanists of Canada, Fall 1994 (#110); The Golden Silk Spider; Florida Wildlife, May-June 1994, Vol. 48, No. 3; and Thomas Huxley Debates Bishop Wilberforce; Humanists of Canada, Winter 1993/94 (#107); Creating Creationists; Creationist’s Use Of “Science” Texts; American Atheist, Summer 2001, Vol. 39, No. 3. Jim also writes a series for The Secular Family Newsletter, Family Matters titled, “The Solution is Evolution.” He has co-authored an article, Creation vs. Evolution: Effects on Learning Biology; which appeared in the September, 2001 American Biology Teacher.
Jim has been a speaker for many Unitarian, Humanist, and Freethought groups, as well as scientific and teaching organizations. He was presented the Florida Humanist Lecturer of the Year Award in 1993.
The Red Lobster Restaurant
2735 N. Atlantic Ave. (Rte A1A), Daytona Beach
(About 1 mile south of Granada Blvd. (Rte 40)
Reservations Requested
The public is invited. No charge to CFI members (Friends of the Center) - $6 requested from others. You can order from the lunch menu. Seating is limited.
Please email DaytonaCFI@aol.com to reserve your spot, or phone 386-671-1921, giving names as they are to appear
