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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The following is an item copied from the current newsletter from the Koshland Science Museum ([log in to unmask]) The letter written by Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Sciences, is very informative and relevant to the ISEN exchanges on evolution.
Albert J. Read, Director, Sci Disc Ctr of Oneonta (NY)
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Academies Confront Challenges to Teaching Evolution
NAS President Bruce Alberts has called on NAS members to "stand ready" to help fight attempts to limit the teaching of evolution in public schools. Alberts says there is a "growing threat to the teaching of science through the inclusion of non-scientifically based 'alternatives' in science courses throughout the country."
To read the text of President Alberts’ letter: go to the following web address:
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/nas/nashome.nsf/urllinks/NAS-6AQJS4?OpenDocument
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network on behalf of Clifford Wagner
Sent: Fri 4/1/2005 10:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Evolution synopsis and a call to action
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
To ASTC and the Listserv
I would have said until very recently - like this month following this
thread on evolution (104+ thoughtful posts so far!) written by you, my
colleagues, that evolution was easy to prove. It's not, at least to
those who have put the word in the category of blasphemy. Our
scientific definition of the word and the definition understood by
those complaining are clearly different. I hear and agree with those
of you saying we don't want to alienate anyone. Ask any of our
directors, we are fragile economic institutions and we can't afford to
alienate anyone. We don't want to alienate anyone, and we don't want
people rejecting science in general. We can't let that go.
Our society needs science as a tool. Evolution is a subset of a much
bigger problem: our society ignoring science (pick global warming or a
number of other critical issues facing our species, our planet today).
Synopsis: Ignoring evolution weakens science, being hard line about it
weakens our ability to reach people. Neither is acceptable.
And that is precisely why we need to respond as a group, cohesive like
we have never been before, with a very carefully crafted statement,
short and sweet.
We need to all cover, as ASTC, not just Fort Worth, or institutions in
the south, but all of us, in a respectful tone the definitions involved
with evolution in a clearly written statement that we publicly give to
the press and place in all our centers.
Who writes it? Please help, do a pass at it, those with the ability.
Post your version. Fort Worth's is a great start. See Kit Goolsby's
post of March 25th for that.
We need this now, quickly. Deadline of one week for statement
candidates?
Who presents it?
Realistically, any center that wants to.
Ideally, ASTC with a unanimous science center community behind it.
Clifford Wagner
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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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