ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I for one am enjoying immensely this discussion. Especially Heather's thread about how science centers might get involved. Now it looks like the discussion might go even wider since Digg has picked it up:
http://tinyurl.com/yjjf99
Regardless of one's political/scientific views...I think the discussion is healthy for our industry (are we an industry?). Science centers tackling issues of the day...hot or otherwise...is good for us, IMHO. I agree with our leader here at Pacific Science Center who, as Heather pointed out, advocates 'a safe place for dangerous ideas.' As facilitators of discussions on such topics, we become a gathering place for young and old alike. A place where ideas are not feared and discourse is treasured. Where LEARNING is treasured. That is in our mission statement. That is a good thing.
Thank you all for such a great discussion. Keep it up.
Stan Orchard
Web Publisher
Pacific Science Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network on behalf of David Smith
Sent: Mon 11/27/2006 7:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Op Ed in Today's WaPost
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hi Teri,
No argument over the content or its relation to scientific
understandings - my issue has nothing to do with propaganda or lack
thereof. The issue is that the movie prominently features, and thus can
be construed to advance or promote, a currently active politician who
might soon be seeking national office. In addition to lobbying, which
seems to be a non-issue (thanks, eyesblue), it's my understanding that
non-profits may not publish or communicate anything that explicitly, or
implicitly, favors or opposes a particular candidate. If the movie had
been done by NCAR scientists, there would be no issue at all and I would
be signing up for a box to hand out right now. It's Al Gore's name and
face and voice all over it that could potentially cause a problem, even
with showing it. I'm no lawyer, so I'll happily yield to anyone with
better knowledge of this law, but I do know that the IRS is extremely
picky about this and I certainly believe that the current administration
wouldn't hesitate to single out science institutions that disagree with
it, just as it has done to individual scientists.
Dave
David L. Smith, Ph.D.
Director of Professional Development
Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown, PA
http://www.davinci-center.org
Engage, Explore, Share
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Teresa Eastburn
> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 7:21 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Op Ed in Today's WaPost
>
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network
> of science museums and related institutions.
> **************************************************************
> ***************
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> The scientific evidence of our changing climate is overwhelming.
> Gore's movie is not a political propaganda piece. It is based on the
> best scientific evidence we have in regard to Earth's climate. Would
> you ask this same question as you put forth support for evolution --
> perhaps in a movie that shows the overwhelming evidence of
> the process
> of evolution at work in our world past and present? And if you did,
> would you fear losing your non-profit status? I think not. Funding?
> Perhaps.
>
> The movie is based on the best scientific evidence we have on
> the status
> of our climate - not the best political or religious views of
> our very
> complex but largely understood climate system. We have an
> obligation as
> science centers to science. When it is controversial, we have an
> obligation to understand why it is so and convey that
> information to the
> public in any of a number of ways. Among the scientific
> community, the
> debate about climate change is over. Let's avoid adding to the
> confusion at the very least.
>
> Teri Eastburn
> National Center for Atmospheric Research
>
> David Smith wrote:
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> > Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> > related institutions.
> >
> **************************************************************
> ***************
> >
> > Could distributing the movie be construed as lobbying or political
> > action in a way that could jeopardize an organization's non-profit
> > status?
> >
> > Dave
> >
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