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

 From the story on CNN, there is no mention of science center-based 
theaters.  Independent theaters may legitimately show what they wish 
(and yes, I realize there is a financial and creative impact that can 
come back to bite us).

However, when it comes to theaters in science centers pulling films, 
sorry, context is everything.  Dialogue is one thing, but I don't go 
to church and expect to hear evolution anymore than I would expect to 
go to a science center and see religion.

David Smith makes a valuable point in that science IS a human 
activity subject to all it's behavioral and attitudinal foibles, and 
Clifford notes how we can all quote the Galileo story by heart; let's 
face it, everyone knows SOMEONE whose research was affected, buried 
or enhanced by a colleagues' ego.  Is science up on a pedestal and 
superior to other ideas?  Not by a long shot.  (That would make an 
interesting exhibition!)  However, isn't the point of going to a 
science center to understand how science illuminates our 
understanding of the world?  How science works?  How science 
interprets the world through self-correction based on data?  Let's 
not suddenly go PC-crazy, this is a little too important. 

Beryl

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>This topic is now on the CNN home page.
>
>http://www.cnn.com
>
>
>Ilka Porter
>Education Coordinator
>Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
>Mobile, AL
>251-208-6886
>www.exploreum.net
>
>NOW SHOWING:
>-The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition
>-Virtual Journey of the Temple Mount
>-Mysteries of Egypt and Mystery of the Maya IMAX Films
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Informal Science Education Network
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
>Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 12:44 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: IMAX and evaluation
>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>************************************************************************
>*****
>
>>  Barbara Flagg wrote
>
>>   and yes, we included in our focus groups the small percentage of the
>
>>  population who are not believers in evolution.  
>
>  From National Geographic 
>(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/
>1018_041018_science_religion.html)
>
>"...in a 2001 Gallup poll 45 percent of U.S. adults said they believe 
>evolution has played no role in shaping humans. According to the 
>creationist view, God produced humans fully formed, with no previous 
>related species..."
>
>We're up the creek here...
>
>Eric Siegel
>Executive VP
>     Programs and Planning
>NY Hall of Science
>47-01 111th Street
>Queens, NY 11368
>www.nyscience.org
>***********************************************************************
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-- 
Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA  02139
Tel: 617-452-2111
Fax: 617-253-8994
[log in to unmask]
"A great place to explore ideas, invention, and innovation: 
http://web.mit.edu/museum"

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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