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

Science Centers represent Science.  We therefore have a responsibility  
for reputation much bigger than our own reputation as any one  
individual center.  The faster we respond to the direct implication  
that any science center even contemplated wavering on evolution, the  
better.  It isn't just the centers in the south whose reputation is  
being questioned.  It is the reputation and the definition of science  
that has been challenged anywhere the articles have possibly been read.  
  Since that includes the Times and USA today (whose article even more  
than the Times one linked Science centers and the wavering on  
evolution).  See the  archive to find the articles, I hope.  I know the  
Times one (March 19th) was pasted in to at least one of the listserv  
posts.  Anyone have access to the USA Today article?  Was it on the  
20th?

If you are a Science Center you don't get a choice.  You must post the  
defense of Evolution in your center when stories come out in the press  
implying that we are not sure of evolution.  While some people in our  
society have an adverse reaction to the word evolution, this is  
literally a defining moment.  By defining why evolution is science we  
actually have a great way of helping to clearly define science itself.

For such an important understandable paragraph  or two for our visitors  
  that we can all print out a finished version of, place in a central  
spot in our center and have something that we can be proud of I  
therefore reiterate the "Write the best version of the Evolution sign"  
challenge.  On April 1st I had suggested a one week deadline for  
getting your entrees in.  It's no longer a suggestion- we need this  
ASAP.  Post your candidate sign by Friday midnight.  We hopefully will  
have a number of exceptional candidates to pick from.  This is a two  
part process.  After all the candidates are in, the second and final  
round will happen, so all the great writers among us can combine the  
best ideas from the best thinkers.  Let's say Tuesday midnight for the  
finals.  Go!, if you haven't already.  There may not be a clear winner,  
but that is an asset, not a liability, to have a couple of good  
candidates to choose from.


My candidate:

Evolution is Science-

People in our society have a naive notion that we can choose science  
like we choose a political persuasion.  In science no individual  
chooses what science stands up.   Individuals put up the ideas, called  
theories, like Einstein, for example, or Darwin.  In both cases, as in  
all science, the theories proposed by individuals are tried out,  
tested, poked, prodded, thought about from every possible angle, by  
anyone and everyone.  Individuals are key to the process and get credit  
for their ideas, but it isn't science until the theory has been tested  
by the community of individuals with knowledge of the particular field.  
  If anything proves them wrong they are no longer science.  Einstein's  
theory of relativity is proven science, it has stood through much  
testing and still is left standing.   Even after such a long time(100  
years next year!) of being proven science the theory of relativity is  
and always will be called a theory.  Darwin's theory of evolution is  
the same: proven science called a theory. 1?? years and still standing!



On Apr 5, 2005, at 8:59 AM, 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]
>

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