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Subject:
Re: RIP Professor
From:
Matthew White <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 17 Jan 2014 12:46:28 -0500
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

I enjoyed the original post about the death of Russell Johnson and thought it appropriate to post to ISEN-ASTC-L. However, I also thought the claim that the Professor (Full name Roy Hinkly, that used to win me some bar bets back before Google and IMDB made knowing useless trivia even more useless) was the first science outreach person suspect, too. I was pondering whether to bring it up, but since Dr. Bellina did, I'll add my own protestations to his. 

I am not sure who I would nominate for that title, since it sorta/kinda depends on how you define "science" and how you define "outreach," but the practice of teaching science to non-professionals (and of course who counts as a "professional" is also an interesting debate) in an informal setting goes back decades, even centuries, possibly millennia.

Even if we kept it to fictional people in the TV/Radio era, I would nominate Dr. Research from the Fran Capra directed Bell Lab series in the 1950's and 60's. One could also nominate Ben Franklin as the first American science outreach person. As for internationally, well, there were hundreds, possibly thousands before 1964. It's a very old tradition.

Not to take love away from the Professor. Let's see Ben Franklin make a radio from coconut!

Matt White


On Jan 17, 2014, at 12:17 PM, jbellina <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> What about Mr. Wizard, he certainly predated the professor, and he was a real person!
> 
> 
> Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
> Emeritus Professor of Physics
> Co-Director, Northern Indiana Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Collaborative
> 574-276-8294
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jan 17, 2014, at 12:02 PM, Eric Siegel wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Great!  thanks for reminding of us of one of our spiritual forerunners in popular culture.
>> 
>> eric siegel
>> 
>> On Jan 17, 2014, at 11:54 AM, Dante Centuori <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>>> *****************************************************************************
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I think I would be remiss if I didn't use this forum to acknowledge the passing of actor Russell Johnson, best known as "The Professor" on Gilligan's Island, who died yesterday at the age of 89.  For many of us who grew up with Gilligan's Island, either on prime time, reruns, parodies or LARPing, (I made that up....I don't know of anyone who LARPs Gilligan's Island...yet) I think The Professor was an inspiration to those of us who fell into our profession in informal science education.  Think about it....  The Professor was someone who was far away from home and had limited resources.  Yet he constantly had to think on his feet and problem solve using his wits, a pocket knife and whatever was on the island and in the SS Minnow.  In other words....HE WAS THE FIRST SCIENCE OUTREACH PERSON!!  Speaking for myself, he was my favorite character.  I'd take apart old appliances in my basement and try to "invent" something.  Coincidence?  Maybe.
>>> 
>>> And all this Maker stuff.....geez, The Prof was doing it old school 45 years ago!  Without a soldering gun!
>>> 
>>> Today, to honor his memory, I think I'll make a Van de Graaff generator out of coconuts.  I think there's a little of The Professor in all of us in the ASTC community!
>>> 
>>> Dante
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Dante Centuori
>>> Director of Creative Productions
>>> Great Lakes Science Center
>>> 601 Erieside Ave.
>>> Cleveland, OH  44114
>>> 216.696.2098 P
>>> 216.696.3472 F
>>> www.GreatScience.com<http://www.greatscience.com/>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ***********************************************************************
>>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>>> 
>>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
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> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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