Todd's Blog

You regular readers might be getting tired of reading Core Academy announcements, but launching this ministry has really been consuming my time lately.  I do hope in the future to get back to commenting on research and the creation/evolution debate in general, but for now, here's another press release: Rhea County Academy and Core Academy of Science Announce Cooperative Agreement Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Here are a few press notices of the launch of Core Academy of Science: The Chattanoogan posted our press release: Christians in Science is Vision for Core Academy The Bryan student newspaper did a bang-up job with an exclusive interview, and they've got the most detailed presentation of our work yet:   CORE Becomes Independent If you happen to read Dutch, you can check out our European coverage:   Creationist Todd Wood Begint Core Academy Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Regular readers will recall my recent forays into human origins, in the areas of both fossils and genetics.  Most of you also know that this is a hot area of debate in evangelicalism generally, with a minority of individuals vocally pushing for acceptance of human evolution or for abandoning traditional conceptions of Adam and Eve.  Human origins is kind of a big deal right now. Part of Core Academy 's new mission is to help Christians understand these kinds of controversial issues, so we decided to create a special, six-hour short course on The Historical Adam , featuring yours truly.  The purpose of the course is to present the state of the debate, especially in its historical context.  The course will feature streaming video lessons as well as written notes.  The six sessions will look something like this: 1.  History of the debate 2.  Biblical and theological issues 3.  Fossils 4.  Genetics 5.  Christian perspectives I 6.  Christian perspectives II For the inaugur

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the launch of Core Academy of Science.  While I'm still a bit nervous about running a ministry like this, I am really excited to see what the Lord will do with this new work.  Check out the official press release right here: Bryan College professors launch new educational ministry Please have a look around our website for more information on upcoming opportunities.  You can also like us on Facebook , +1 us on Google+ , or follow us on Twitter .  Keep following here also, as in the coming weeks I explain more about the Core Academy plans. Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Congratulations to Eric P. and Joe C., the winners of our first monthly giveaway.  They've each won signed copies of my book  Understanding the Pattern of Life , which I'll ship out this week.  We'll do another giveaway next month, and to be eligible, all you need to do is join our mailing list . Later this week, I'm heading out of town to do a special seminar you'll be hearing more about in the very near future.  When I get back...  I'll make the big announcement. Next Monday, we officially launch Core Academy of Science.  Check back here for the press release. Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Lee Berger and collaborators have been busy analyzing their discovery of Australopithecus sediba , which was initially announced with a set of papers in Science  in 2010.  Eighteen months later, Berger and colleagues published another set of papers with a more in-depth analysis of the fossils, and now eighteen months later, they're back for more.  The new papers  evaluate the phylogeny of sediba , along with the jaw, legs and arms, backbone, and chest.  The new phylogenetic study evaluates a huge set of data, which is extremely exciting.  To my knowledge, this level of detail has not been applied to hominids previously.  The results suggest that sediba  is actually a sister taxon to Australopithecus africanus  and that Homo habilis  and Homo rudolfensis  are collectively the sister taxa to Homo erectus .  I think many creationists will like the former bit (since they want sediba  to not be human), but they should find the habilis  placement objectionable (since many want  erectus

That was fast.  On Monday, I mentioned that when we reached 100 subscribers to the Core Academy of Science email newsletter, we'd start giving away free stuff.  So we did, and so we shall. For our April giveaway, we'll be awarding a signed copy of Understanding the Pattern of Life  to two of our email newsletter subscribers.  If your name is drawn, we'll contact you by email, and if you don't want the book, we'll keep drawing until we find two people who do.  You do not have to be a resident of the United States to win.  I will draw the names on Sunday, April 14, so there's still time to sign up if you're interested: Core Academy of Science Email Newsletter Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Lots of folks are asking me what we will do at Core Academy of Science, but we're not quite ready to make the full announcement.  We had our first board meeting on Saturday, and we approved our first year's budget and plan.  We're quickly approaching our official launch date, and then I'll be able to give everyone the full scoop. In the meantime, our new mailing list is growing nicely.  As soon as we get to 100 folks on the mailing list, I'm going to start drawing names for free stuff (books, videos, and stuff).  Yes, you read that right.   FREE STUFF .  To be eligible, you'll need to be on the Core Academy mailing list, so sign up today: Join the mailing list for Core Academy of Science Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.