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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The Monterey Bay Aquarium implemented a direct visitor advocacy
campaign (write-in postcards) to urge the Governor to protect and
expand marine protected areas on the CA coast in 2006.
The Aquarium folks have written about the experience (contact Jenny
Sayre Ramberg for their report), which sounds like it was mostly
positive, with lots of people opting not only to send a postcard but
also to join their advocacy group, Ocean Action, to receive
information about similar upcoming projects.
I agree with Elaine Gurian's statement that with regard to message,
museums need to decide whether they are using overt or covert bias in
museum text, exhibits, etc. Frankly, from my perspective, giving
people information about things like energy conservation and then
ending with a smarmy, "You decide!" or "Now go out and be an energy
pioneer!" is BS. I think in many cases we should put our message out
overtly in the form of advocacy campaigns. It gives inspired
visitors something tangible to do and acknowledges the covert
messages the museum espouses and offers.
I wrote about the Aquarium and similar projects here:
http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2007/06/move-on-model-inciting-visitor-
social.html
Nina
On Dec 12, 2007, at 12:08 PM, Shelly Ryan wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
>
> In this dialogue are we questioning whether museums are, or should
> be, viewing climate change as controversial, or a subject that they
> shouldn't have a viewpoint on? If the former is the case, then
> exhibit/program developers are not doing their homework and staying
> up with scentific concensus on the matter. If it is the latter,
> then how can museums not take a stand on environmental and social
> degradation, and ultimately disaster if all countries and their
> citizens don't take action? From what I've seen science museums
> certainly do take a stand on other environmental issues; climate
> change should be no different.
>
> Certainly, telling visitors they SHOULD sign a petition or vote in
> a certain way is out of line for a museum. But informing visitors
> about possible ways they can help with the climate change situation
> would be supportive for many people who simply don't know what
> steps to take . Many lay persons are not environmentally
> sophisticated, and therefore don't know much about these issues or
> the remedies. People go to museums to learn, and science museums
> are there to inform, to fill in the blanks. Yes??
>
> Shelly Ryan
> Recent Museums Studies Grad
>> Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:26:56 -0500> From: [log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: Visitors and petitions - action on climate change>
>> To: [log in to unmask]> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of
>> the Association of Science-Technology Centers> Incorporated, a
>> worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.>
>> *********************************************************************
>> ********> > Tim;> > I agree. Visitors come to us for unbiased
>> information about > science and they respect us for that. Much
>> better to educate them > about the science of the issues and then
>> let them send their > petitions. I'd be afraid we'd be viewed as
>> biased for certain > positions and loose credibility.> > Martin> >
>> >> >> >"does this seem like a way to get more people involved in
>> any issue for> >which science centers start to "advocate"/talk
>> about policy?"> >> >I would have to say yes. People who are
>> interested in and respect our> >institutions would probably just
>> visit the website and sign any petition> >that we put out in front
>> of them. I think that it's more our job to educate> >and inspire
>> our guests. If we can truly do that, they'll find their way to>
>> >those petitions (or find some other way to make a difference). >
>> >> >Tim Oldread> >Public Programs Coordinator> >Mote Marine
>> Laboratory & Aquarium> >1600 Ken Thompson Parkway> >Sarasota, FL
>> 34236> >Phone: 941-388-4441 x369> >Fax: 941-388-4381> >E-mail:
>> [log in to unmask]> >> >"We may find that not only are life
>> systems more complex than we think,> >they are also more complex
>> than we can think."> >> >> >> >> >> >-----Original Message----->
>> >From: Informal Science Education Network> >[mailto:ISEN-ASTC-
>> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katie Stofer> >Sent:
>> Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:21 AM> >To: ISEN-ASTC-
>> [log in to unmask]> >Subject: Visitors and petitions - action
>> on climate change> >> >> >ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the
>> Association of Science-Technology Centers> >Incorporated, a
>> worldwide network of science museums and related> >institutions.>
>> >********************************************************************
>> ********> >*> >> >Has anyone ever tried (for climate change or
>> other issue) directing> >visitors to online petitions such as this
>> one for the UN Climate> >Conference in Bali? http://www.avaaz.org/
>> en/bali_emergency> >> >I'm thinking either through a kiosk in the
>> center or through e-mailings> >to members. What about a specific
>> science center action email list (for> >members or non-members)
>> for petitions such as these? Yes, online> >petitions have their
>> problems, but would this be a next step people> >could take, or a
>> way to connect things they gleaned from their center> >visit to
>> changes at home, work, or school?> >> >Aside from the technical
>> issues of hosting a kiosk, does this seem like> >a way to get more
>> people involved in any issue for which science centers> >start to
>> "advocate"/talk about policy?> >> >--> >--> >Kathryn Stofer>
>> >TerraLink Exhibit Manager> >Interim SpaceLink Exhibit Manager>
>> >Maryland Science Center> >601 Light Street> >Baltimore, Maryland
>> 21230> >410/545-5976> >410/545-5974 fax> >http://
>> www.marylandsciencecenter.org/exhibits/terralink.html> >>
>> >********************************************************************
>> ***> >For information about the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers and the> >Informal Science Education Network please visit
>> www.astc.org.> >> >Check out the latest case studies and reviews
>> on ExhibitFiles at> >www.exhibitfiles.org.> >> >The ISEN-ASTC-L
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>> ***> >For information about the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers > >and the Informal Science Education Network please visit
>> www.astc.org.> >> >Check out the latest case studies and reviews
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>> >[log in to unmask]> > > -- > Martin Weiss, PhD>
>> Science Interpretation> Consultant,> New York Hall of Science> >
>> *********************************************************************
>> **> For information about the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit
>> www.astc.org.> > Check out the latest case studies and reviews on
>> ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.> > The ISEN-ASTC-L email
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> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
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> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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