ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Actually, it probably doesn't matter whether a response is predictable or not. One has to assume that if it's communicated over the Internet to as large a distribution as we are, any response will be known outside the List almost as soon as it's decided upon.
Charlie
Charles Stout
Media Arts Manager
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
(In what year did Winston Smith die?)
-----Original Message-----
From: (Charles Stout) <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:04:14 -0400
Subject: Re: Science and Evolution Statement: Drafting Committee?
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Eric:
No. You actually misunderstand my concerns by inferring outcomes that I have not
yet conceived. Nor are my comments derived from my institution. Actually, this
is how I spent a trade day, so I decided to converse with my larger group of
colleagues.
My concern is that no one in this discussion seems to be thinking about what the
result of nationally or globally published or posted statements will be other
than 1) we will make a principled stand and feel better or 2) there will be
negative consequences from press or Right Wing interest groups, which seems to
be expected and O.K. (And does "global" even apply? or just USA?) Also, another
concern is that the plan of action is reactive, without looking deeply at
possible outcomes (good or bad) and therefore not developing either obvious or
potential goals. Nor are we thinking about more effective strategies for
reaching and connecting with the public. A statement posted at our doors may
make us feel better, but won't have the effect of a concerted use of press,
Internet, print and broadcast media -- or even doing a more effective job of
what we already do.
Mostly, what I see us talking about is rolling up our sleeves and thrashing
around in the playground. In a political wrestling match, it isn't just who's
right (with a small r) that wins. Sorry, but Edward R. Murrow didn't take the
breath our of McCarthy just because he was right -- he carried a granite club
the size of the number one news network and he struck after McCarthy overreached
and weakened his position. One of the things that's attractive about working in
a science center or research institution is the thinking and stretching involved
in what we take to the public. I don't see that level of thinking in this
discussion.
What I see is something I've experienced a few times from early in my career:
start with a predictable reaction to a problem, the opposition responds and
escalates, respond and escalate in a predictble way, the opposition responds and
escalates, etc. You play their game, you play by their rules, you get bloodied
and lose (one of these was the end of an appointment for a scholar who couldn't
agree with the review committee about evidence for mitochondrial Eve among other
things, so the evolution raged). My personal assessment of the planned statement
is that it will have little effect one way or the other -- maybe make us feel
we've done something and provide a little more fodder for social conservative
op/ed pieces, but they have plenty already. So, the question then is what will
we do next, and next, and next?
To have any effect requires thinking, a plan to win (hearts and minds,
whatever), and what we plan to do with the "victory" (generate more critical
thinking, teach more science, raise awareness about the social context in which
science opperates). Jonah's recent closing comment -- "I only wish we were that
powerful" -- was right on target and completely off: I'm absolutely sure, we
have tremendous assets and power, which we truly need to succeed. But we (myself
included) haven't given anywhere near enough thought to how powerful we are or
how to use our assets effectively. For crying out loud, look at the assets we
have just on our advisory and trustee boards: what parts of the community can
they carry messages to? how can they help us frame a response to reach the
consituencies they represent.
For me, the individual, there is a higher purpose -- taking science, the process
of unsterstanding phenomena, and making it accessible and attractive to the
public. I sure would like to see more for all the emotion and effort being
expressed in this string...
(... a vision statement and a strategic plan -- which might very well include
the statement that is being drafted -- goals, anticipated outcomes and
contingencies.)
Best to all and good night,
Charlie
Charles Stout
Media Arts Manager
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 12:55:18 -0400
Subject: Re: Science and Evolution Statement: Drafting Committee?
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Hi, Charlie:
I'm not sure I understand your concern, but let me try to rephrase it, and let
me know if I am accurate. You think it is OK to draft a statement (or at least
not un-OK), but you are worried about the negative effect such a statement might
have on your science center if the media gets a hold of it?
If I do understand your concern correctly, I am sorry to hear that Ann Arbor is
yet one more place where you have to be worried that a carefully modulated
statement of support for the theory of evolution will cause you to go "down in a
blaze of glory." It must have changed a lot since I was an undergraduate there.
If I misunderstand (as often happens with email exchanges) please clarify when
you get a chance.
A second concern you express--I think-- is about the efficacy of such a
statement in isolation from a larger strategic plan to address this issue. I
agree that we could craft a larger strategy to have a greater impact. However,
deferring an action until there is a "higher level discussion of strategy and
tactics" reminds me of the old brit com "Yes Minister" in which the civil
servant is always finding plausible sounding reasons not to do something. I
learned a great deal from that show that has helped me in my quarter century in
the museum racket ;^).
Eric Siegel
Executive VP
Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
www.nyscience.org
On Apr 14, 2005, at 11:28 AM, (Charles Stout) wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology > Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related >
institutions.
> *********************************************************************** >
******
>
> Eric, Clifford et al.:
>
> I wouldn't suggest that you (or some collaborative of we) should not > draft a
statement ON(as opposed to ABOUT) evolution, but I have > reservations about the
effect and effectiveness any such statement > might have without a higher level
discussion of strategy and tactics.
>
> Refering back to Phil's message of earlier today, the statement is > reactive
and political by intent. These aren't bad reasons to write it > and post it
prominantly. But they are reasons to look at the stratgies > and tactics used by
those we would be reacting to. By and large, > political debate is in the media,
and science centers generally and > collectively have a great deal of access to
media and therefore to > reading, viewing and listening populations long before
they ever reach > our doorsteps to read the statement. We should want to look at
> scenarios of desired and likely outcomes for actions we take in regard > to
our statements as well as our actions and programming.
>
> I think these larger issues might provide the framework for a > concerted
strategic plan that could frame any statement and also serve > to focus and
coordinate other efforts -- because other efforts will be > required. One
assumes that we all have a passionate desire to provide > science information
and experiences in perpetuity rather than going > down in a blaze of glory.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Charlie
>
> Charles Stout
> Media Arts Manager
> Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
> Ann Arbor, MI
***********************************************************************
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]
***********************************************************************
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]
***********************************************************************
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]
|
