The EvoS Consortium: Catalyzing Evolutionary Training in Higher Education

Abstract

EvoS is a consortium of evolutionary studies programs that can catalyze evolutionary training across the curriculum in higher education. This special issue of Evolution: Education and Outreach shows how the dictum "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" can be achieved within the biological sciences and expanded to include all human-related subjects, both for undergraduate education and faculty interactions, fulfilling the ideal of a liberal arts education and turning the university into a single intellectual community.

An Undergraduate Minor in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences

“…The traditional EvoS model is the gold standard, and has been highly successful in improving evolution education and expanding the reach of evolutionary theory across numerous institutions (Wilson et al, 2011;2019). Yet, with the challenges some social scientists can face when developing new EvoS programs, faculty in higher education may need to consider different approaches (Burch, 2018).…”

“…Though New Paltz is a considerably smaller university in the SUNY system, this EvoS program has been equally successful and interdisciplinary, currently listing nearly two dozen affiliated faculty and now offering an undergraduate major alongside the original EvoS minor. Joining efforts in 2008, Wilson and Geher then acquired funding from the National Science Institution to create the EvoS Consortium (evostudies.org), which currently includes comparable EvoS programs from dozens of institutions across the United States and abroad (Wilson, Geher, Waldo, & Chang, 2011;.…”

“…The basic structure of a campus-wide EvoS program includes a fundamental course on evolutionary theory, an array of interdisciplinary courses that highlight the applications of evolutionary thinking, and a seminar course where guest speakers can discuss their evolution-based research with students and faculty (Wilson, Geher, & Waldo, 2009). While most colleges and universities have the necessary components to develop interdisciplinary EvoS programs, i.e., a range of evolution-based courses already on the books, a number of challenges and roadblocks to doing so have been documented (Spaulding, Burch, & Lynn, 2014).…”

“…To reduce to the necessity of wide interdisciplinary collaboration, this program includes a number of required courses already taught regularly within the Psychology major (Table 1). Aligning with the traditional EvoS model (Wilson 2005;Wilson et al, 2009), a course in evolutionary psychology (with an introductory course as a prerequisite) replaces the general evolution course. Given that this course in evolutionary psychology serves as a basis for student knowledge in evolutionary theory, it includes previously demonstrated pedagogical practices for improving evolution education in humanoriented disciplines (O'Brien & Gallup, 2011).…”

Evolutionarily informed parenting: A ripe area for scholarship in evolutionary studies

“…-27-on a steep upward trajectory (see Chang, Geher, Waldo, & Wilson, 2011). The international Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) Consortium is, before our eyes, fulfilling the promise of "completing the evolutionary synthesis in higher education" (Wilson, Geher, & Waldo, 2009). Applications of evolution to help us better understand significant problems of humanity are starting to emerge in all sorts of corners, such as education (see Gray & Chanoff, 1994), clinical psychology (see Wakefield, 1992), health (see Platek, Geher, Heywood, Stapell, Porter, & Walters, 2011), and the planning of neighborhoods to make cities better functioning (see Wilson, 2011).…”