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Hello Matthew and all:

I recommend reading the entire editorial, which is considerably more  
damning than David's synopsis.  NSTA explicitly states that  
distributing these might interfere with its fundraising efforts for a  
capital campaign, which includes many corporate donors.   In  
addition, NSTA *does* distribute material, including videos, funded  
by large energy companies.  I assume there must be NSTA staff on the  
ISEN listserv, and I would be very curious to hear how NSTA responds  
to this in more detail.  On the face of it, this is a terrible  
decision on NSTA's part.

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
718 699 0005 x 317
www.nyscience.org


On Nov 26, 2006, at 10:04 PM, Matthew White wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> There was an interesting piece in the Outlook section of the  
> Washington Post this morning that I thought I would bring to the  
> attention of hte group for discussion.
>
> The article was written by Laurie David,  one of the producers of  
> Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."
>
> The article can be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ 
> content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400789.html
>
> A brief synopsis:
>
> Apparently the makers of the movie wanted to give thousands of  
> copies away to schools. They contacted the NSTA and offered them  
> 50,000 copies for distribution. The NSTA declined the offer. Here  
> is the pertinent paragraph with their reply:
>
> "In their e-mail rejection, they expressed concern that other  
> "special interests" might ask to distribute materials, too; they  
> said they didn't want to offer "political" endorsement of the film;  
> and they saw "little, if any, benefit to NSTA or its members" in  
> accepting the free DVDs."
>
> The article then goes on to compare that position with the NSTA's  
> cooperation, some would say complicity, in helping the oil industry  
> deliver their curriculum materials. They also point out that many  
> of the programs that the NSTA has developed in past years have been  
> paid for by companies like Texaco and Exxon/Mobil.
>
> The issue is more complicated than the author makes it appear, but  
> she does have a point.
>
>
> The points I thought worthy of discussion here:
>
> 1. Is this typical NSTA behavior? I am not familiar with NSTA as I  
> don't work much directly with Science Teachers.  Are the Petroleum  
> Industry sponsored curriculum materials as pro-energy usage and pro- 
> petroleum industry as the author suggests? I recall the Reddy  
> Kilowatt character from my youth and he certainly was.
>
> 2. We all need money to produce our programs Many (most) of us  
> apply, compete for , and sometimes even win grants from  
> eleemosynary arms of large corporate entities that have  vested  
> interests in specific public policies and even candidates.  The  
> problems in censorship, external, internal and self, has been  
> chewed over ad nauseam in the museum and popular press.  But as a  
> Director of a small center that takes corporate funding that is  
> part of a larger entity that takes corporate funding, that is part  
> of an even larger institution that takes corporate funding I find  
> the NSTA decision odd. When you accept this type of money you have  
> to be MORE careful not to appear biased. This move seems tailored  
> made for controversy.
>
> Anyway, I have rambled on. Sorry.
>
> Discuss among yourselves.
>
>
>
>
>
> Matthew White
> Director, Hands On Science Center
> National Museum of American History
> Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
> 202/633-3698
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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