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

Thanks to all who have contributed to the formation of a cohesive 
statement on scientific theory and evolution!  I'd love to have it 
printed and displayed with thousands of signatures from various 
scientific centers, labs, scientists, and informal science educators.

Teri Eastburn
UCAR/NCAR Educational Designer

Joan Harless wrote:

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Nicely stated!
>
>Let's have lunch the next time you are in Columbus!
>
>Joan
>
>  
>
>>>>[log in to unmask] 4/7/2005 5:52:14 PM >>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>I do like this statement as a way to communicate the essence of the
>importance of science as a body of understanding that has robust
>support
>that can be validated and also as one discipline among others that lead
>to
>understanding.   One problem I see is that the way you use the word
>theory
>in the first paragraph sort of suggests that creating a theory is a up
>front
>task and is a guess which then gets tested.  This supports the common
>non-scientific use of the term.  I think we need to advance the idea
>that a
>theory in science is the most powerful statement one can make about
>knowledge derived from the science process in which we do make guesses
>and
>test them.  A theory is sort of the end result and is not just a
>guess.
>Another thing to ponder (not for a general audience) is that many of
>scientists that I work with love to have the rungs of the ladder fail
>-
>because, when they do, they believe that it validates the process of
>science
>and it makes the future of science so much more exciting.  Some
>religions
>see it differently in that, if rungs in their belief system fail, the
>whole
>belief system may fail.
>
>Bill Schmitt
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Informal Science Education Network
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Phil Edgerton
>Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 12:43 PM
>To: [log in to unmask] 
>Subject:
>
>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>****************************************************************************
>*
>
>Greetings,
>Here is a revised form of statement for the member institutions to
>consider.
>Lisa Jo Rudy had valuable input to the revisions. She suggested the
>ladder
>metaphor and making the language simpler.
>Phil Edgerton, The Health Adventure, Asheville, NC.:
>
>Science is like a ladder, with each step up the ladder depending upon
>the
>strength of the step below.  Imagine each step of the ladder as a
>theory, or
>idea.  First, a scientist suggests a theory based on his/her
>observations of
>events, or "phenomena".   Then, the scientist tests the theory and
>presents
>his or her findings.  Fellow scientists try the same experiments, and
>if
>they have the same results the theory begins to be accepted . The new
>theory
>makes another step up the ladder possible..
> What happens if fellow scientists try the same experiment, and get
>different results?  The theory may have to be changed or no one can
>climb
>the ladder, because the theory isn't strong enough. Scientific theories
>can
>be changed by new evidence because they are not just opinions, or
>faith
>statements. They are accepted in their new form supported by the
>independent
>work of many different individuals.
>
>Science has been very powerful in leading us to new observations and
>predictions and to new technology. It has led to many of the
>technological
>"wonders" we take for granted today. Think of the world before we
>understood
>that "germs" cause disease! Remember how we landed humans on the moon!
>
>Science won't be able to give us all the answers, though. people have
>always
>used art, religion, and philosophy to explore questions about the
>meaning
>and relevance of life. These fields complement science. At a deep
>level,
>there is really not so much conflict among all the fields.
>
>The Theory of Evolution is like any other long-lived and tested
>scientific
>theory. It organizes the field of biology and is backed up by physics,
>geology, and paleontology. It is a major step on the science ladder! Is
>the
>Theory of Evolution likely to be revised and expanded in the future?
>Of
>course! But that revision is most properly done using the methods of
>science
>itself. Science centers have the responsibility to show people how The
>Theory of Evolution fits into science and how we understand our world.
>We
>take that responsibility seriously!
>
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