Look into this one, everyone: the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS), another attempt to coordinate efforts to improve public outreach and science education. They have some worthy goals:
- Building the COPUS network – Underpinning the COPUS effort is a growing network of organizations and individuals who share a common goal: engaging sectors of the public in science and increasing their appreciation and understanding of the scientific enterprise. Find out more about participating in the COPUS Network.
- Developing state-level benchmark science-indicator reports on the importance of science to the U.S. economy and standard-of-living
- Supporting a national effort to promote the public understanding of science in a year-long celebration: Year of Science 2009 (also available: Year of Science 2009 fact sheet [PDF])
- Integrating efforts with the Understanding Science website project currently under development at the University of California, Berkeley
If you’re involved with any kind of scientific outreach organization, register with them — they’ve got a long list of science groups. I particularly like the fact that they’re herding together a grassroots effort to celebrate a Year of Science in 2009, the Darwin bicentennial year, since there doesn’t seem to be any national leadership on the issue otherwise.
COPUS is a great concept. They should bring Richard Dawkins into the US for a series of nationwide seminars, as that is his field.
Denis C
This reminds me of The Clergy Letter Project – brainchild of Michael Zimmerman of Butler University and NCSE:
http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/US/380_the_clergy_letter_project_want_8_23_2007.asp
All these sort of initiatives are great ideas worth spreading the news around.
In a sense COPUS is a form of national leadership. Looking at their FAQ it appears that the bulk of their funding is coming from governmental agencies, either directly or indirectly. I like this use of NSF funds, I view it as a long term investment that may increase the amount of support for science in the future.
Alas, I’m not, so I can’t.
I’m non COPUS mentis.
Thanks for pointing this out PZ. The members and board of the Kansas Citizens for Science have recently contacted them and are looking at ways to work together.
COPUS seems to be a great organization at the national level, along with NCSE and others.
Cheers.
New?
COPUS has been around for donkey’s years (ok, established in 1986). You mean some upstart US organisation is trying to appropriate the acronym for itself?
Mind you the original COPUS seems quiet…maybe it died.