The Panda's Thumb Legacy Archive — pandasthumb.net

So long, Carrie!

Posted 6 August 2010 by Richard B. Hoppe

The National Center for Science Education has a slew of resources to support efforts to keep honest science in classrooms. It has articles, databases, and a great archive. But most important, it has people, smart caring people who are ready to help those of us out in the field with information, advice, and encouragement. One of those people has been Carrie Sager. I don't know all her duties, but one of them was maintaining the database devoted to the various legal cases around the country. For me, of course, that means Freshwater. Two federal cases are under way in that matter, and Carrie has been assiduous in sweeping PACER daily for the latest legal documents and court filings and updating the database, notifying me as soon as new docs went up and occasionally commenting on them, giving me ideas for treatment of them. Equally important, she has been unfailingly cheerful in the face of my documentation OCD. But now she's leaving NCSE to go to law school. I hate to see her leave, but I wish her all good fortune. 'Bye, Carrie. And many many thanks. And to those who haven't joined NCSE: what are you waiting for?

15 Comments

Frank J · 6 August 2010

And to those who haven’t joined NCSE: what are you waiting for?

— Richard B. Hoppe
Yes! Please everyone, it's only $30 a year, and that gets you 6 issues of Reports of NCSE. More importantly, it supports the endless fight against anti-science and anti-science-education forces. And please, don't even think that they "censor" anything; you can access more anti-evolution propaganda through NCSE's website than you'd ever get from public school science class if anti-evolution activists got their way. Of course you'd be only a click or 2 away from the refutations that those activists don't want you to see. I have been a member since 1999, and have not received one cent for this endorsement.

Karen S. · 6 August 2010

The NCSE is a wonderful organization, and the "Reports of NCSE" is very interesting.

John Kwok · 6 August 2010

I can not think of a more important "weapon" in the arsenal of those of us interested in defending the teaching of sound science in science classrooms from science denialists of all stripes, but especially creationists, than the National Center for Science Education. Were it not for the National Center for Science Education, it's inconceivable that the plaintiffs in the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District trial would have succeeded, since it was NCSE which provided much of the scientific and other technical expertise that gave the plaintiffs and their attorneys (one of whom was recommended by NCSE, Eric Rothschild) the wherewithal to prevail.

Even those who have been critical of NCSE's supposedly "accomodationist" stance, like, for example, PZ Myers, have encouraged others to join NCSE. As Frank J has noted the annual dues is quite nominal to say the least. I have been a proud member for several years and expect to continue for many, many years to come.

Gary Hurd · 6 August 2010

Good luck in law school. Best wishes.

Michael A · 6 August 2010

They do have an "accomodationist" stance, and for this reason I can not support them. The faith outreach is unnecessary and in my opinion taints the whole operation. I believe it is pandering to irrationality.

Dale Husband · 6 August 2010

And when she graduates from law school, she will be the Discovery Institute's worst nightmare!

Dale Husband · 6 August 2010

Michael A said: They do have an "accomodationist" stance, and for this reason I can not support them. The faith outreach is unnecessary and in my opinion taints the whole operation. I believe it is pandering to irrationality.
Yes, it is the "agree with us on everything or we won't help with anything" mentality. Stuff it!

Reed A. Cartwright · 6 August 2010

Does anyone know which law school?

SWT · 6 August 2010

Thanks for the opportunity to thank NCSE for its work to advance its "primary goals: improving and supporting education in evolution and the nature of science, and increasing public understanding of these subjects." I'm impressed with the breadth and depth of their efforts, and their success in building a diverse and broadly-based coalition to address these critical issues. Best wishes to Ms. Sager!

RBH · 6 August 2010

Reed A. Cartwright said: Does anyone know which law school?
Yup, but that's up to Carrie to publicize if she wishes.

RBH · 6 August 2010

RBH said:
Reed A. Cartwright said: Does anyone know which law school?
Yup, but that's up to Carrie to publicize if she wishes.
And I see she's done so on Facebook: American University in D.C.

John Kwok · 6 August 2010

Perhaps you can enlighten PZ Myers. Even as he was condeming harshly their "accomodationist" stance (which I still regarnd as a ludicrous accusation, having looked carefully at thie website), he was still telling people to join NCSE. So if PZ Myers can still support them, maybe you should too:
Michael A said: They do have an "accomodationist" stance, and for this reason I can not support them. The faith outreach is unnecessary and in my opinion taints the whole operation. I believe it is pandering to irrationality.
Were it not for NCSE, I strongly doubt the Kitzmiller vs. Dover plantiffs would have scored as decisive a victory as they did over the Dishonesty Institute and Intelligent Design cretinism.

Anton Mates · 7 August 2010

One of those people has been Carrie Sager. I don’t know all her duties, but one of them was maintaining the database devoted to the various legal cases around the country.
Carrie does a ton of different things: website design and maintenance, mailing list administration, public outreach at conferences, and occasionally fielding telephone calls from panicked or furious strangers. Basically just about any task for which you'd want a highly intelligent and ultra-competent person--especially one under 30. I filled in for about half her duties once when she went on leave, and it had my head spinning. I don't envy her successor...but the NCSE's loss is the courtroom's gain!

John Kwok · 7 August 2010

I can't think of a better farewell gift to Carrie than to join or to donate (lavishly if possible, a little if necessary) to the National Center for Science Education in her honor. You can do so here online:

http://ncse.com/membership

Carrie · 18 August 2010

Wow, see what happens when I don't check PT for a couple weeks? I miss totally nice posts all about me!

Thanks, Dick!