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I just want to thank Charlie and Martin for that article.  I thought  
it was a very insightful synthesis, bridging the gap between those of  
us with a scientific explanation of evolution and the near majority  
of American's who do not accept that explanation.  I think the  
authors formulation encourages us to recognize the humanity and  
intellectual capacity of those who do not accept the scientific  
explanation, and alleviates some of the condescension, if not  
outright contempt, for those who don't share the scientific  
understanding of the world.

Eric Siegel
New York Hall of Science
[log in to unmask]
(718) 699-0005 x 317



On May 30, 2007, at 3:11 PM, Charles Carlson wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> I would suggest that folks take a look at the article I circulated  
> a fews days back and that Martin followed up with a no subscription  
> reference.  It gets to the heart of human nature and social  
> constructs, learning is a layer on top of these basic constructs.  
> There are suggestions in the literature indicating that people do  
> make adjustments for first hand observation, i.e. the path of an  
> object out of a curving tube be it solid or liquid.  But people  
> generally tend to believe the accepted and condoned version reality  
> whether it's fact or fiction, and I would add particularly if it  
> has little effect on their immediate existence, e.g. disease, germs  
> and health.  Common wisdom is something like, people tend get  
> exercised and attentive about dangers of little relevance if the  
> consequences are large, or disinterested in stuff that generally  
> doesn't matter to their daily lives, e.g., global warming,  
> evolution, and this is particularly true if there's no social/ 
> cultural support, or compelling need for action.  Museums and  
> exhibits can support and foster knowledge and enlightenment, but  
> they ain't  going to revolutionize.  So change at the top and  
> beckons of light are what's needed.  The Creation Museum is a  
> pathetic example of the power of ignorance––one of many.
>
> On May 29, 2007, at 3:03 PM, Diana Issidorides wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
>> institutions.
>> ********************************************************************* 
>> ********
>>
>> While agreeing with the comments of both Nina Simon and Alan  
>> Friedman on storytelling and the need for our institutions to  
>> promote fascinating narratives on evolution, I can't help but feel  
>> this is fighting the symptoms instead of  the disease.  As long as  
>> creationism is sanctioned by  the formal educational system and  
>> spoon-fed to children at school, attempts  to counterbalance this  
>> brainwashing via our exhibitions are but a drop in the ocean,  
>> however commendable. Children taught from a young age to see the  
>> world through the eyes of creationism will not see the light  
>> because they visited our exhibition, project, or programme on  
>> evolution. Our energy must primarily be aimed at  the root of the  
>> problem: lobbying both congress and senate to stop endorsing  
>> creationism as an alternative to the teaching of evolution in  
>> schools.
>>
>> Diana Issidorides
>>
>> – –
>> Dr. Diana C. Issidorides
>> Senior Scientist & Exhibition Developer
>> Science Center NEMO
>> P.O. Box 421
>> 1000 AK Amsterdam
>> The Netherlands
>> T: +31205313201
>> [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask]
>> www.e-nemo.nl
>>
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>
> Charles Carlson
> Director of Life Sciences
> exploratorium
> 3601 Lyon St.
> San Francisco, CA 94123
> [log in to unmask]
> Tel:   415-561-0319
> Fax:  415-561-0370
>
>
>
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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.
>
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