Nominations opened today for the 2008 Purpose Prize, a Civic Ventures initiative that awards five 100,000 dollar prizes and ten 10,000 dollar prizes to Americans over 60 who are working to solve significant social problems by combining innovation, creativity, and their experience. Nominations close March 1.

This winter, the Alliance for Science—whose mission is to "heighten public understanding and support for science and to preserve the distinctions between science and religion in the public sphere" and to "bring together scientists, teachers, and science-related companies with the many religious bodies that have found no conflict between religion and science"—is holding its second annual National High School Essay Contest. The contest encourages students to personally engage the scientific culture by writing on the effects of climate and agricultural developments on evolution. The deadline for submission is February 29. —Sara Kern

Three of the five members of the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education in New Mexico voted yesterday to rescind a policy allowing "intelligent design" to be taught in public school science classrooms. —Heather Wax

Amir Aczel, the critically acclaimed author of Fermat's Last Theorem, has written a new book, The Jesuit and the Skull, about science, faith, French cleric and scientist Teilhard de Chardin, and the search for Peking Man.

Alan Leshner, CEO of AAAS and the executive publisher of the journal Science, and James Thomson, a professor of anatomy at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the first scientist to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, put the latest stem cell breakthrough into scientific perspective in today's Washington Post. —Heather Wax

Was the director of science curriculum for the Texas Education Agency forced to resign for criticizing "intelligent design"?

As the global warming debate continues to heat up, "green sermons"—in which religious leaders call for environmental activism—are beginning to sweep the Southeast, thanks to movements like the Interfaith Power and Light campaign. These messages from the pulpit are raising awareness of key environmental issues, such as energy conservation and the reduction of carbon footprints, among a large demographic of American society. Advocates hope to see the trend spread to congregations throughout the country. —Stephen Mapes