Two new journals are set to launch in 2008 that deal with the teaching and application of evolution. The first, to be published by Springer, is Evolution: Education and Outreach. The editors are Niles Eldredge and his son Greg. I am privileged to be serving on the editorial board along with some very important people in the evolutionary research, education, and outreach communities. The official launch of the journal will occur at the National Association of Biology Teachers annual meeting in November. The second, to be published by Blackwell, is Evolutionary Applications. It is edited by my colleague Louis Bernatchez of Université Laval in Québec.

Here are the publishers’ journal descriptions:

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution revolutionized scientific thinking. Since the publication of The Origin of Species 147 years ago, this theory has been extensively and rigorously tested. Overwhelming scientific evidence from many disciplines exists to support this theory. From the vast body of scientific evidence that has accumulated, we have come to an understanding of all areas of the biological world – from our cells and DNA to our lakes and forests. Evolutionary principles are the foundation of all modern biology and have led to major advances in fields as diverse as molecular biology, developmental biology, genetics, behavior, and paleontology. As such, evolutionary theory is a fundamental and necessary component of modern science education.

Evolution: Education and Outreach will promote accurate understanding and comprehensive teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience. Targeting K-16 students, teachers and scientists alike, the journal will publish articles to aid members of these communities in the teaching of evolutionary theory.

Evolutionary Applications

Evolutionary Applications publishes papers that utilize concepts from evolutionary biology to address biological questions of health, social and economic relevance. Papers are expected to employ evolutionary concepts or methods to make contributions to areas such as (but not limited to): agriculture, aquaculture, biomedicine, biotechnology, conservation biology, disease biology, fisheries and wildlife management and invasion biology. Theoretical, empirical, synthesis or perspective papers are welcome.