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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Matthew just said it all - if you put it in your museum or science 
center, you've given it credibility.
Beryl

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>It would be easy to jump on this as just another example of educational
>institutions caving in to the right wing agenda, which it probably is, but
>lets face it, the iMax/OmniMax films have never been the gold standard for
>accuracy, completeness, and objectivity. They are, and have always been,
>revenue enhacing entertainment. Any educational content has been a happy
>by-product.
>
>At the begining of the long running T-Rex Back to the Cretaceous, they
>actually ran a disclaimer warning of historically innacurate content. This
>doesn't even speak to the embarassing portrayal of women archaeologists and
>museum professionals in general.
>
>It's a difficult question to answer. Would you want your iMax theater to run
>an inaccurate, stereotyped movie that contains evolution as a core theme, or
>be afraid to run that same film because of fears from creationists.
>
>Its an embarrassng choice to have to make.
>
>Just having a cynical Moday afternoon.
>
>
>Matthew White
>Director, Hands On Science
>Smithsonian Institution
>PO Box 37012
>NMAH MRC 603
>14th St. & Constitution Ave
>Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
>202/633-3698
>FAX:202/357-3328
>[log in to unmask]
>>>>  [log in to unmask] 03/21/05 10:13 AM >>>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>	This is symptomatic of a  national conservative attack on
>empirical based scientific theories (though no one seems to be
>attacking other theories like relativity). What is sobering is that
>institutions that are established to present science as observable
>and testable-not based upon faith-are caving to this pressure.
>
>One wonders if the remarks of viewers in the focus group who favored
>the films  were as emphatic as those opposed to it? Was there was
>less of a risk of pressure from them if the film were not shown? Of
>if their thoughts are deemed less important?
>
>It would be interesting to hear from Fort Worth and other
>institutions about how they came to their decision and just what the
>pressure or the perception of is like?
>
>If you'd like to keep to date on the campaign to inhibit and prohibit
>teaching of evolution  be sure to consult NCSE's (National Center for
>Science Education, Inc.) web sitehttp://www.ncseweb.org
>where you can always find the latest news on evolution education and
>threats to it.
>
>For another aspect of the attacks on evolution see: To read "Battle
>on teaching evolution sharpens" (registration required), visit:
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32444-2005Mar13.html
>e-mail me off list if you can't get this and want a copy of the article.
>
>The New York Times article is
>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/19/national/19imax.html
>
>Martin
>
>>This article is from the New York Times . . .
>>say it isn't so!
>>Denise
>>
>>NATIONAL |   March 19, 2005
>>A New Test for Imax: The Bible vs. the Volcano
>>By CORNELIA DEAN
>>Several Imax theaters are refusing to show movies that mention
>>evolution, fearing protests by opponents of the theory.
>>
>>
>>Denise LeBlanc
>>Education Director
>>Science Discovery Museum
>>177 Main Street
>>Acton, MA  01720
>>978-264-4200 x 20
>>www.discoverymuseums.org
>>
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>  >[log in to unmask]
>
>--
>Martin Weiss, Ph.D
>Vice President, Science
>New York Hall of Science
>47-01 111 th Street
>Corona, New York 11368
>718 699 0005 x 356
>
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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
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"A great place to explore ideas, invention, and innovation: 
http://web.mit.edu/museum"

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