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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Eric:
No. You actually misunderstand my concerns by inferring outcomes that I have not yet conceived. Nor are my comments derived from my institution. Actually, this is how I spent a trade day, so I decided to converse with my larger group of colleagues.
My concern is that no one in this discussion seems to be thinking about what the result of nationally or globally published or posted statements will be other than 1) we will make a principled stand and feel better or 2) there will be negative consequences from press or Right Wing interest groups, which seems to be expected and O.K. (And does "global" even apply? or just USA?) Also, another concern is that the plan of action is reactive, without looking deeply at possible outcomes (good or bad) and therefore not developing either obvious or potential goals. Nor are we thinking about more effective strategies for reaching and connecting with the public. A statement posted at our doors may make us feel better, but won't have the effect of a concerted use of press, Internet, print and broadcast media -- or even doing a more effective job of what we already do.
Mostly, what I see us talking about is rolling up our sleeves and thrashing around in the playground. In a political wrestling match, it isn't just who's right (with a small r) that wins. Sorry, but Edward R. Murrow didn't take the breath our of McCarthy just because he was right -- he carried a granite club the size of the number one news network and he struck after McCarthy overreached and weakened his position. One of the things that's attractive about working in a science center or research institution is the thinking and stretching involved in what we take to the public. I don't see that level of thinking in this discussion.
What I see is something I've experienced a few times from early in my career: start with a predictable reaction to a problem, the opposition responds and escalates, respond and escalate in a predictble way, the opposition responds and escalates, etc. You play their game, you play by their rules, you get bloodied and lose (one of these was the end of an appointment for a scholar who couldn't agree with the review committee about evidence for mitochondrial Eve among other things, so the evolution raged). My personal assessment of the planned statement is that it will have little effect one way or the other -- maybe make us feel we've done something and provide a little more fodder for social conservative op/ed pieces, but they have plenty already. So, the question then is what will we do next, and next, and next?
To have any effect requires thinking, a plan to win (hearts and minds, whatever), and what we plan to do with the "victory" (generate more critical thinking, teach more science, raise awareness about the social context in which science opperates). Jonah's recent closing comment -- "I only wish we were that powerful" -- was right on target and completely off: I'm absolutely sure, we have tremendous assets and power, which we truly need to succeed. But we (myself included) haven't given anywhere near enough thought to how powerful we are or how to use our assets effectively. For crying out loud, look at the assets we have just on our advisory and trustee boards: what parts of the community can they carry messages to? how can they help us frame a response to reach the consituencies they represent.
For me, the individual, there is a higher purpose -- taking science, the process of unsterstanding phenomena, and making it accessible and attractive to the public. I sure would like to see more for all the emotion and effort being expressed in this string...
(... a vision statement and a strategic plan -- which might very well include the statement that is being drafted -- goals, anticipated outcomes and contingencies.)
Best to all and good night,
Charlie
Charles Stout
Media Arts Manager
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 12:55:18 -0400
Subject: Re: Science and Evolution Statement: Drafting Committee?
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Hi, Charlie:
I'm not sure I understand your concern, but let me try to rephrase it, and let me know if I am accurate. You think it is OK to draft a statement (or at least not un-OK), but you are worried about the negative effect such a statement might have on your science center if the media gets a hold of it?
If I do understand your concern correctly, I am sorry to hear that Ann Arbor is yet one more place where you have to be worried that a carefully modulated statement of support for the theory of evolution will cause you to go "down in a blaze of glory." It must have changed a lot since I was an undergraduate there. If I misunderstand (as often happens with email exchanges) please clarify when you get a chance.
A second concern you express--I think-- is about the efficacy of such a statement in isolation from a larger strategic plan to address this issue. I agree that we could craft a larger strategy to have a greater impact. However, deferring an action until there is a "higher level discussion of strategy and tactics" reminds me of the old brit com "Yes Minister" in which the civil servant is always finding plausible sounding reasons not to do something. I learned a great deal from that show that has helped me in my quarter century in the museum racket ;^).
Eric Siegel
Executive VP
Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
www.nyscience.org
On Apr 14, 2005, at 11:28 AM, (Charles Stout) wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology > Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related > institutions.
> *********************************************************************** > ******
>
> Eric, Clifford et al.:
>
> I wouldn't suggest that you (or some collaborative of we) should not > draft a statement ON(as opposed to ABOUT) evolution, but I have > reservations about the effect and effectiveness any such statement > might have without a higher level discussion of strategy and tactics.
>
> Refering back to Phil's message of earlier today, the statement is > reactive and political by intent. These aren't bad reasons to write it > and post it prominantly. But they are reasons to look at the stratgies > and tactics used by those we would be reacting to. By and large, > political debate is in the media, and science centers generally and > collectively have a great deal of access to media and therefore to > reading, viewing and listening populations long before they ever reach > our doorsteps to read the statement. We should want to look at > scenarios of desired and likely outcomes for actions we take in regard > to our statements as well as our actions and programming.
>
> I think these larger issues might provide the framework for a > concerted strategic plan that could frame any statement and also serve > to focus and coordinate other efforts -- because other efforts will be > required. One assumes that we all have a passionate desire to provide > science information and experiences in perpetuity rather than going > down in a blaze of glory.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Charlie
>
> Charles Stout
> Media Arts Manager
> Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
> Ann Arbor, MI
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