ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Stephan, I agree with your statements. thanks for sharing them.
Max Scharfenberger
VP Programs
Odyssium
11211 142 Street
Edmonton, AB T5M 4A1
phone: 780-452-9100
fax: 780-455-5882
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Stephen Uzzo
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 6:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ASTC and evolution
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Bonnie, distinguished list members -
It seems to me that there is an underlying disease of which the
controversy over evolution and creationism is a symptom. It is confusion
in the public understanding of science. By this I mean, not the
understanding of scientific concepts or topics, whether simple or
complex (the noun): but rather, the understanding of science, the
process for seeking causation and unifying, testable principles of
reason (the verb).
(now here's where I get flamed) Science, as the seeking of facts in
nature, has over the centuries, likely proved equally 'wrong' as it has
proved 'right.' By "going to the mat" over who has proprietary dominion
over truth, science opens itself up to the criticism of those from other
paradigms (my truth is better than your truth). But whether science is
the "truth" (whatever that is) is really not, as I see it, the core
problem in the evolution-creationism argument. Science is a way to
understand nature. Evolution is a scientific concept which has used the
technique of science to validate itself.
Creationism is NOT science, it is theology. Theology is a different way
of understanding nature. It uses different methods than science to
validate itself. Because the two are different paradigms, they simply do
not relate to each other: in Thomas Kuhn's perspective, "different
gestalt(s)." One is mutually exclusive of the other. We are, arguably,
at a point where it is pretty clear what is science and what is not, so
it should not be hard for this distinction to be made.
That being said, perhaps if we focus on getting people to better
understand what scientific inquiry is, and why it is different than
theology/religion, then it will be obvious why creationism has nothing
to do with science. Every time the issue comes up, it is time to
educate, not pontificate (which we do when we go on about how much
better, more important, closer to the truth, etc., science is than
religion). It might also have the benefit of relieving us of a whole
pantheon of pseudo-scientific notions which plague those who try to
teach science and end up being challenged by those who obviously do not
understand what science is.
It strikes me that we need to do a better job of teaching kids to be
critical thinkers and be somewhat skeptical, as well as to help them
find ways to test their beliefs in ways which fit into the framework of
science (because we have clearly defined what the boundary of that
framework is).
Let the flaming begin.
Bonnie VanDorn wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Dear Informal Science Educators:
>
> As you know, our field has been abuzz since an article appeared in the New
> York Times on March 19 asserting that "several Imax theaters, including some
> in science museums, are refusing to show movies that mention evolution-or
> the Big Bang or the geology of the earth-fearing protests from people who
> object to films that contradict biblical descriptions of the origin of Earth
> and its creatures." During the days that followed the publication of this
> article, more stories and opinion pieces appeared in other media.
>
> ASTC has been following these developments closely and has been in touch
> with member museums and other organizations that share our dedication to
> science learning. As an organization of science centers and museums
> dedicated to furthering the public understanding of science among
> increasingly diverse audiences, ASTC supports our members in their ongoing
> educational work. Evolution is a major unifying concept of modern biology,
> and as such holds an important place in efforts to broaden interest in and
> understanding of science.
>
> We welcome the discussion that has taken place on ISEN-ASTC-L. In addition
> to being the field's most lively forum for discussion, the listserv and its
> archive have proved to be an invaluable resource for science center
> professionals who sought a central place to congregate, react, and
> strategize while crafting a response to what appeared in the Times and
> elsewhere.
>
> We are also creating a place to talk about the issue at our May 1-2 Board
> retreat; heads of all ASTC Governing Members are invited to attend. ASTC is
> also working with the American Association for the Advancement of Science
> (AAAS) and others to create opportunities to address this issue at the 2005
> ASTC Annual Conference. We continue to look for additional ways to address
> the issue, which clearly is part of a larger continuing concern, and to
> support members in their educational work.
>
> Bonnie VanDorn
> Executive Director
> Association of Science-Technology Centers
>
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]
>
--
Stephen Miles Uzzo
Director of Technology
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
New York 11368 U.S.A.
v. +1.718.699.0005 x377
f. +1.718.699.1341
http://www.nyscience.org
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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