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Gosh, I hadn't even thought about screening the film. I was thinking in
terms of making the DVD available for those who wanted it and providing
additional information about the issue with it - perhaps even a
discussion guide or resource guide to balance out the presentation.
I think one of the best discussions surrounding a film like this is how
to watch it with a critical eye so you are more prepared to understand
science in the media and public policy. I think it is also important to
be able to pull from any piece of media what is actually good science
and not throw the baby out with the bath water, because of the agenda of
the presenter, whether you agree with their position or not.
I am hoping this would provide a new opportunity. I also recognize that
the producers may have an agenda I wouldn't want to support blindly or
unconditionally. In that case, I would not take the DVDs.
Thanks for all the great discussion.
Heather Gibbons
Education Enrichment Manager
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Ave N| Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206/443-3636 | Fax: 206/443-6600
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Evan Koblentz
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 10:47 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Op Ed in Today's WaPost
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****
>>>> Ican see your point about making sure a balanced approach is used.
I
think it would be our job as science educators to be sure we use
something
like this DVD to open discussion and provide access to as much
information
as we can.
As our president says often "We should be a safe place to discuss
dangerous
ideas." You are correct that we should present objective information.
Maybe
the way to do it with this DVD is to make sure that we provide some
context
when distributing the DVD. We could provide forums for discussing the
pros
and cons of the documentary in terms of how to present scientific
results -
promoting critical thinking and analysis.
I don't know all the answers, I just see an opportunity. Maybe the
discussion on this list serve can ferret out some of those answers.
Thanks for the thoughtful response. <<<<
Just seems to me that it's a bad idea for a science center to screen a
film
made by a very well-known liberal, just as it would be to screen a film
made
a very well-known Republican, or bible-thumper, or
moon-landing-conspiracy
theorist, or anyone else who clearly is not objective.
Like I said, I voted for Gore, and I like his film. But if I visited a
museum and saw them screening it, the skeptic in me would immediately
think,
"Okay, this museum has an agenda other than objectivity." That is not *
necessarily * bad but it soooooo easily can be.
Let's not all be blinded by the offer of freebies, even freebies that
coincide with our particular opinions.
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