Steven Schafersman
Encyclopedia
Steven Dale Schafersman is an American geologist and current President of Texas Citizens for Science
, an advocacy group that opposes teaching creationism
as science in the public schools. In addition, he is also known for his blog
www.BadGeology.com.
, a M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Geology (1983) from Rice University
. He currently resides in Midland, Texas
with his wife Dr. Gae Kovalick, a University of Texas of the Permian Basin
professor of Biology
. He specialized in invertebrate paleontology
, stratigraphy
, and sedimentary petrology.
Schafersman grew up collecting fossils, mushrooms, insects, rocks, minerals, and playing outdoors in Texas, Arkansas, and Illinois.
Schafersman taught at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin
(2000-2002), Miami University (Ohio)
(1994-1999), University of Houston
(1984-1989) and Houston Community College (1974-1978 and 1984-1994).
He has been a pro-science activist since 1989.
In addition, he created the Free Inquiry website, dedicated to educating the public on humanism and skepticism and the Texas Citizens for Science
website, committed to opposing the representation of religious concepts such as intelligent design
and creationism
as science in Texas textbooks. Schafersman contributes to a blog
column for the Houston Chronicle
at Evo.Sphere Blog.
Texas Citizens for Science
Texas Citizens for Science is a Midland-based advocacy group that works to protect the accuracy and reliability of science education in Texas...
, an advocacy group that opposes teaching creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
as science in the public schools. In addition, he is also known for his blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
www.BadGeology.com.
Biography
Schafersman holds a B.S. in Geology and Biology from Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, a M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Geology (1983) from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. He currently resides in Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
with his wife Dr. Gae Kovalick, a University of Texas of the Permian Basin
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
professor of Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. He specialized in invertebrate paleontology
Invertebrate paleontology
Invertebrate paleontology is sometimes described as Invertebrate paleozoology or Invertebrate paleobiology....
, stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, and sedimentary petrology.
Schafersman grew up collecting fossils, mushrooms, insects, rocks, minerals, and playing outdoors in Texas, Arkansas, and Illinois.
Schafersman taught at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
(2000-2002), Miami University (Ohio)
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(1994-1999), University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
(1984-1989) and Houston Community College (1974-1978 and 1984-1994).
He has been a pro-science activist since 1989.
In addition, he created the Free Inquiry website, dedicated to educating the public on humanism and skepticism and the Texas Citizens for Science
Texas Citizens for Science
Texas Citizens for Science is a Midland-based advocacy group that works to protect the accuracy and reliability of science education in Texas...
website, committed to opposing the representation of religious concepts such as intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
and creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
as science in Texas textbooks. Schafersman contributes to a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
column for the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
at Evo.Sphere Blog.
Texas State Board of Education
Schafersman works against the movement to revise the Texas State Board of Education science curriculum to include religious objections to evolution.External links
- BadGeology.com
- Texas Citizens for Science website
- Schafersman's blog for the Houston ChronicleHouston ChronicleThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...