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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Ok, so how about a simple, "we represents and interpret currently
held scientific thinking."
Beryl
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>
>In response to Clifford, who in articulated our frustration, has exposed
>some of our underlying shaky premises:
>
>There is a big difference between science and religion: no one gets to
>choose which science they believe in. Science is a rigorous process.
>We can choose a theory to put forth, but the theory that fits the facts
>the best is the present science we must all follow. There is no
>wiggle room.
>
>
>I'd like to think this, too, but I've seen too much evidence to the
>contrary.
>
>Many of us choose which parts to ignore, focusing only on what is directly
>relevant to our work or lives, leaving other parts unexplored or in storage
>with a bunch of dogma from a variety of sources. Growing up in the Midwest, I
>met many farmers and some ag researchers who knew genetics, selection,
>hybridization, the lineage of cattle and horses and peaches and
>blueberries; they
>understood pathogen vectors and knew to anticipate potential effects of
>chemical exposure among field researchers and farm workers -- but
>they still did'nt
>accept human evolution. It didn't directly affect their lives or their
>practice. Likewise, I have spoken with physicians, pharmaceutical
>researchers and
>bioengineers who know and work with parts of what most of us consider a
>unified theory of evolution, without accepting other parts of it. I may not
>understand how they are able to do that, but that's my problem. I
>also don't think
>most of them chose the religious beliefs to which they subscribe.
>
>Yes, academic institutions are under attack from those who wish to censor
>ideas that do not conform to their beliefs. But we don't do
>ourselves any favors
> by rising to the bait in confrontations designed to undermine our
>credibility -- not our scientific credibility, but as institutional
>citizens that
>respect the rest of society's institutions. We also have to get
>over the idea that
>you can't be scientifically literate or practice science unless you accept
>the whole package (I know it's a struggle to accept this, but I see the
>evidence). If we are as smart as we think we are, we certainly can develop
>strategies that generate a demand for what have to offer, to which
>we can respond
>with what we do best.
>
>As always yours,
>
>Charlie
>
>Charles Stout
>Media Arts Manager
>Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
>Ann Arbor, MI
>
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>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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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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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
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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