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 do like this statement as a way to communicate the essence of the
importance of science as a body of understanding that has robust support
that can be validated and also as one discipline among others that lead to
understanding.   One problem I see is that the way you use the word theory
in the first paragraph sort of suggests that creating a theory is a up front
task and is a guess which then gets tested.  This supports the common
non-scientific use of the term.  I think we need to advance the idea that a
theory in science is the most powerful statement one can make about
knowledge derived from the science process in which we do make guesses and
test them.  A theory is sort of the end result and is not just a guess.
Another thing to ponder (not for a general audience) is that many of
scientists that I work with love to have the rungs of the ladder fail -
because, when they do, they believe that it validates the process of science
and it makes the future of science so much more exciting.  Some religions
see it differently in that, if rungs in their belief system fail, the whole
belief system may fail.

Bill Schmitt

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Phil Edgerton
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 12:43 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

Greetings,
Here is a revised form of statement for the member institutions to consider.
Lisa Jo Rudy had valuable input to the revisions. She suggested the ladder
metaphor and making the language simpler.
Phil Edgerton, The Health Adventure, Asheville, NC.:

Science is like a ladder, with each step up the ladder depending upon the
strength of the step below.  Imagine each step of the ladder as a theory, or
idea.  First, a scientist suggests a theory based on his/her observations of
events, or "phenomena".   Then, the scientist tests the theory and presents
his or her findings.  Fellow scientists try the same experiments, and if
they have the same results the theory begins to be accepted . The new theory
makes another step up the ladder possible..
 What happens if fellow scientists try the same experiment, and get
different results?  The theory may have to be changed or no one can climb
the ladder, because the theory isn't strong enough. Scientific theories can
be changed by new evidence because they are not just opinions, or faith
statements. They are accepted in their new form supported by the independent
work of many different individuals.

Science has been very powerful in leading us to new observations and
predictions and to new technology. It has led to many of the technological
“wonders” we take for granted today. Think of the world before we understood
that "germs" cause disease! Remember how we landed humans on the moon!

Science won’t be able to give us all the answers, though. people have always
used art, religion, and philosophy to explore questions about the meaning
and relevance of life. These fields complement science. At a deep level,
there is really not so much conflict among all the fields.

The Theory of Evolution is like any other long-lived and tested scientific
theory. It organizes the field of biology and is backed up by physics,
geology, and paleontology. It is a major step on the science ladder! Is the
Theory of Evolution likely to be revised and expanded in the future? Of
course! But that revision is most properly done using the methods of science
itself. Science centers have the responsibility to show people how The
Theory of Evolution fits into science and how we understand our world. We
take that responsibility seriously!

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