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	 This is symptomatic of a  national conservative attack on 
empirical based scientific theories (though no one seems to be 
attacking other theories like relativity). What is sobering is that 
institutions that are established to present science as observable 
and testable-not based upon faith-are caving to this pressure.

One wonders if the remarks of viewers in the focus group who favored 
the films  were as emphatic as those opposed to it? Was there was 
less of a risk of pressure from them if the film were not shown? Of 
if their thoughts are deemed less important?

It would be interesting to hear from Fort Worth and other 
institutions about how they came to their decision and just what the 
pressure or the perception of is like?

If you'd like to keep to date on the campaign to inhibit and prohibit 
teaching of evolution  be sure to consult NCSE's (National Center for 
Science Education, Inc.) web sitehttp://www.ncseweb.org
where you can always find the latest news on evolution education and
threats to it.

For another aspect of the attacks on evolution see: To read "Battle 
on teaching evolution sharpens" (registration required), visit:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32444-2005Mar13.html
e-mail me off list if you can't get this and want a copy of the article.

The New York Times article is 
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/19/national/19imax.html

Martin

>This article is from the New York Times . . .
>say it isn't so!
>Denise
>
>NATIONAL |   March 19, 2005
>A New Test for Imax: The Bible vs. the Volcano
>By CORNELIA DEAN
>Several Imax theaters are refusing to show movies that mention 
>evolution, fearing protests by opponents of the theory.
>
>
>Denise LeBlanc
>Education Director
>Science Discovery Museum
>177 Main Street
>Acton, MA  01720
>978-264-4200 x 20
>www.discoverymuseums.org
>
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-- 
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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