Sacred Bovines

BOOKS

Sacred Bovines

by Kathryn Nicolai ’20

Douglas Allchin ’79 addresses biological misconceptions in Sacred Bovines, whose title playfully modifies the familiar phrase for beliefs that go unchallenged. In 28 short essays, Allchin explores popular misunderstandings of science, delving into issues of sex and gender, evolution, human nature, genetic determinism, and politics and emotions in science.

WHY A BOOK?

Sacred Bovines began as a column in the journal The American Biology Teacher. But the topics seemed of general interest. Namely, how do we fall into mistakes, how can we challenge “sacred” assumptions and, ultimately, how can we think more creatively?

Douglas Allchin explores misunderstandings of science.

A BUCKNELL EDUCATION

Allchin in part credits his liberal arts education for “expanding his awareness and allowing him to see different perspectives.” Spending his junior year abroad in England especially provided “an important lesson in how to see things from another’s perspective.” Appreciating an error requires, he says, “a sympathetic understanding of alternative views.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

“Sometimes the plain and simple is not so plain and simple,” Allchin says. One part of Sacred Bovines “strikes to the heart of how we disguise our mistakes. We project cultural and ideological notions onto nature, which makes the ideas seem ‘natural’ and inevitable, not ideological.” For example, “monsters,” such as the “Elephant Man” Joseph Merrick, were often reviled as “unnatural, which is ironic,” Allchin claims, “because they were products of nature.” In a similar way, today’s society interprets gender based on a “presumed natural dichotomy of male and female, when the biology is far more complex.”

SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM

“Good educators address student misconceptions,” says Allchin, who adds that teaching science directly from a textbook makes it harder for students to learn how science works and why (and when) to trust science. He finds that “historical stories are illuminating and enlightening” and uses them to help convey the themes about how to think — and how not to think — about science.

Sacred Bovines: The Ironies of Misplaced Assumptions in Biology. Douglas Allchin ’79 (Oxford University Press, 2017)

OTHER BOOKS

Brenda Crouthamel Adams ’68
Cool Plants for Cold Climates: A Garden Designer’s Perspective (University of Alaska Press, 2017)
Adams details how to maintain a flawless and interesting garden even in the harshest conditions. Filled with insightful advice, accessible explanations and beautiful photographs of gardens Adams has designed, this book will help spice up your curb appeal in any season.

Veronica Raggi ’00
Exposure Therapy for Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Comprehensive Guide (New Harbinger Publications, 2018)
Exposure therapy helps people confront their fears in a safe environment. This guide, co-authored by Raggi, walks the reader through methods of assessing contributing factors and implementing exposure therapy to treat an array of conditions. .

Brian Mitchell
How to Run a College (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018)
Bucknell’s former president (2004 to 2010) co-authored this work with W. Joseph King to provide insight on managing the financial and institutional struggles faced by small colleges and universities. How to Run a College takes a step-by-step approach to providing historical context, as well as evidence-based insights, for education leadership to use in strategic planning.

Lauren James ’13
The Last Beginning (Sky Pony Press, 2018)
Originally published in the UK, The Last Beginning is the sequel to The Next Together. The series follows protagonist Clove Sutcliffe as she navigates time travel, love stories and reincarnation. James’ inclusion of text messages, letters and even Snapchat screenshots make this young adult fiction novel an intriguing read.

Back to Full Issue

Table of Contents