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David,
your observations I think highlight one of the key challanges we face in tackling evolution.
If we present things like peppered moths, then its easy for people to see a RATIONAL framework in play. It presents (as you say yourself) obvious, rational and directed change ( intellegent?). I went through uni (biochem, microbiology) with a friend that (because of a particular religous background)accepted micoevolution ( she conducted antibiotic based selection trilas each week in the lab).. but could not accept macro-evolution.
What a challange we face.. How do we take people through DEEP TIME, and show the emergence of useful BUT UNEXPECTED adatpations.
Steven J Gould had a good approach by showing what I think of as examples of "STUPID DESIGN"... where the adaptations where usefull, but no-one would design it that way, or run the game so badly. Mate selection is a good area to expose this ( and something close to our.. hearts). Elk evlolving antlers that (apart from showing off) are a dead liability, male birds sporting dangerously bright colors. If you had a camera built as badly as as the human eye you'd sue the manufacturer ( the intellegent designer obvioulsy had a soft spot for octupus, they have their eyes biult the right way round).
So.. anyone got a GOOD exhibit about STUPID design?
Dr Stuart Kohlhagen
Manager New Concepts
Quesatcon
Australia -Kangaroos, platypus, Koala.. great animals.. stupid designs
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network on behalf of David Smith
Sent: Wed 2/8/2006 9:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Naural selection computer interactives?
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
There is one in the AMNH Darwin exhibit where you control leaf color
with a slider and watch birds prey on two different colored populations
of bugs. It was well done, simple, graphically appealing, and easy to
use, however, as someone who has seen and taught with very crude DOS
versions of a similar demo, I didn't find it either surprising or
particularly engaging. For what it's worth, I also didn't see a lot of
interaction around it as I went through nearby parts of the exhibit.
David L. Smith, Ph.D.
Director of Professional Development
Da Vinci Discovery Center, Allentown, PA
http://www.davinci-center.org
"Who will pick up where Leonardo left off?"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julie Desmond
> Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 3:08 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Naural selection computer interactives?
>
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
> Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network
> of science museums and related institutions.
> **************************************************************
> ***************
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
> We're looking for a computer interactive that demonstrates
> how the process of natural selection works, for an upcoming
> exhibit we're planning on island ecology and evolution. Has
> anyone seen any such interactives out there? I heard there
> might be one in the new Darwin exhibit at the American Museum
> but haven't been to see it yet. Any information would be
> much appreciated. Thanks,
>
> Julie
>
>
> ...................................
> Julie S. Desmond
> Senior Exhibit Researcher, Ecology
> Exhibit Development Department
> California Science Center
> 700 State Drive
> Los Angeles, CA 90037
> www.californiasciencecenter.org ...................................
>
>
> **************************************************************
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