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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Nightline, on Jan. 13, addressed the current lawsuits pending in Dover, PA regarding the use 
of the text book "Pandas and People", which promotes an intelligent design perspective on 
evolution.  Nighline also stated that one in three people in the U.S. believe that the biblical 
view of creation is correct.  Unquestionably, this topic should be addressed on this listserve 
since many if not all of our institutions promote the theory of evolution, which conflicts with 
one-third of the population's belief system.  And I believe whole-heartedly with Martin -- 
that this deals with two different, although conflicting, ways of viewing the world -- faith-
based ways of knowing and science based (testable).  Galielo was able to reconcile his faith 
and scientific ways of knowing.  How do we help the public do the same?  

Teri Eastburn, Educational Designer
National Center for Atmospheric Research
----- Original Message -----
From: martin weiss <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, January 14, 2005 12:35 pm
Subject: Re: Evolution in the news

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> CentersIncorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and 
> related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> >
> >I am very surprised that anyone would NOT see this as a perfectly 
> >good venue for discussing evolution.  After all, is it not our 
> goal 
> >to help people understand the world around them?   Don't we 
> >represent currently held thinking based on the latest research? 
> >Charlie makes a valuable point that there is a serious 
> >misunderstanding of what a theory is.  Doesn't that seem to imply 
> >that we collectively as a field need to push toward programming 
> that 
> >emphasizes an understanding of HOW research is done as opposed to 
> >just WHAT is being done?
> >Beryl
> >
> 
> Beryl;
> 
> I think the problem is not in an understanding of how scientist use 
> the word theory as apposed to how lay folks use the word. But the 
> problem is a different way of seeing the world  and belief systems 
> that suport this view: faith based and science based (testable).
> 
> Martin
> -- 
> Martin Weiss, Ph.D
> Vice President for Science
> New York Hall of Science
> 47-01 111 th Street
> Corona, New York 11368
> 718 699 0005 x 356
> 
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