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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My take on this has always been that the job of an educational institution is to clarify the concepts involved. As soon as we start taking stances based on the Treaty of Tripoli or some such, the mission of a science center becomes vastly more complex. And how long have you *already* spent formulating a mission statement?
I was disappointed that the judge in the Cobb County case did not come out and say that the stickers presented a falsehood, or at least a distortion. I'm not a lawyer; maybe what he did was the only avenue open. In my opinion the stickers do not endorse religion, which is why they have gotten as far as they have. What they do very effectively is conflate the word "theory" in science with "theory" in everyday speech, which is their purpose - to confuse the issue.
If we can demonstrate what a theory is, what scientific inquiry is, what can be done with data, and what the real value and use of doubt is, then that is enough of a challenge.
Marc Taylor
Coordinator, Andrus Planetarium
Hudson River Museum
511 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10701
914 963 4550 x223
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-----Original Message-----
From: martin weiss [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 12:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Evolution in the news
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Couple of points: There does not seem to be one biblical view of
creation. It seems to range from a strict interpretation of the
biblical description to a very loose interpretation that God created
everything, including the laws that rule the universal, and just let
everything go.
When folks are asked in these surveys about evolution and creationism
not all are talking about the same understandings. I think few people
understand what evolution is about. Or understand that it is the core
to understanding who and what we are in so far as science can define
these (to paraphrase Steven Jay Gould); that it is the central
essence of biology and closet to being The Law, as sometimes the laws
of thermodynamics are referred.
I don't think that a museum visit can attain the kind of
enlightenment Teri refers to and that I ideally would like to see.
"Help" is the operative word. Perhaps we can open some eyes and
stimulate others to think about the issue. Faith based beliefs are
amongst the most deeply held. However, children are probably more
open to new ideas like this than are adults. Though an understanding
of evolution is probably developmentally not possible for very young
children.
I also think we need to give visitors a reason to examine their
views. Perhaps by pointing out why evolution is important to their
lives in a manner that is non threatening (to their core beliefs).
This does not mean compromising on the science or the evidence.
Evolution is real, no questions about it. Mechanisms maybe not but
evolution. It is real. And that can never be compromised. Maybe if
visitors-who do not accept evolution and are amenable to accepting
new ideas understand why it is important to their lives-they would be
wiling to examine their views.
Cheers,
Martin
>
>
>Nightline, on Jan. 13, addressed the current lawsuits pending in
>Dover, PA regarding the use
>of the text book "Pandas and People", which promotes an intelligent
>design perspective on
>evolution. Nighline also stated that one in three people in the
>U.S. believe that the biblical
>view of creation is correct. Unquestionably, this topic should be
>addressed on this listserve
>since many if not all of our institutions promote the theory of
>evolution, which conflicts with
>one-third of the population's belief system. And I believe
>whole-heartedly with Martin --
>that this deals with two different, although conflicting, ways of
>viewing the world -- faith-
>based ways of knowing and science based (testable). Galielo was
>able to reconcile his faith
>and scientific ways of knowing. How do we help the public do the same?
>
>Teri Eastburn, Educational Designer
>National Center for Atmospheric Research
>----- Original Message -----
>From: martin weiss <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Friday, January 14, 2005 12:35 pm
>Subject: Re: Evolution in the news
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> CentersIncorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
>> related institutions.
>>
>>*****************************************************************************
>>
>> >
>> >I am very surprised that anyone would NOT see this as a perfectly
>> >good venue for discussing evolution. After all, is it not our
>> goal
>> >to help people understand the world around them? Don't we
>> >represent currently held thinking based on the latest research?
>> >Charlie makes a valuable point that there is a serious
>> >misunderstanding of what a theory is. Doesn't that seem to imply
>> >that we collectively as a field need to push toward programming
>> that
>> >emphasizes an understanding of HOW research is done as opposed to
>> >just WHAT is being done?
>> >Beryl
>> >
>>
>> Beryl;
>>
>> I think the problem is not in an understanding of how scientist use
>> the word theory as apposed to how lay folks use the word. But the
>> problem is a different way of seeing the world and belief systems
>> that suport this view: faith based and science based (testable).
> >
>> Martin
>> --
>> Martin Weiss, Ph.D
>> Vice President for Science
>> New York Hall of Science
>> 47-01 111 th Street
>> Corona, New York 11368
>> 718 699 0005 x 356
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
>> 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
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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.
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>[log in to unmask]
--
Martin Weiss, PhD
Vice President for Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
phone 718 699 0005 x 356
facsimile 718 699 1341
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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