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

Hi Amanda, Suzanne, Wendy,

Re the two NEMO exhibits I posted a few days earlier, in response to  
Wendy's question, and your reactions:

These two exhibits are in our interactive gallery on psychology,  
which I developed for NEMO. I am a psychologist myself and share the  
concerns voiced in your replies. This is precisely why these 2  
exhibits are NOT presented as "polygraphs"  but as an exciting  
illustration of how GSR (and other physiological) measures can be  
used to detect arousal – not  the 'truth' or 'falsity' of a  
statement.  Exhibit copy stresses the unreliability of polygraphs and  
how they can be misused.

As long as we present such exhibits as described above, I would like  
to argue that science museums should not avoid them (afraid that  
visitors may come to wrong conclusions) but strive to embed them in  
such a way that their message is crystal clear and straightforward  
for everyone, with no room for misinterpretation.

(Suzanne, I am very interested in your research on the representation  
of psychology in science museums. Would like to know more and  
collaborate. Please mail me off- list).

Diana

– –
Dr. Diana C. Issidorides
Senior Scientist & Exhibition Developer
Science Center NEMO
P.O. Box 421
1000 AK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T: +31205313119
[log in to unmask]
www.e-nemo.nl

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

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]