ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Isn't this fun!!!! HEHE. I'm loving this. It really is a good discussion with some valuable considerations.
Lou Papai
Educational & Public Programs Manager
Science Central
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of martin weiss
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Definition of Science for 7 and under
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Clifford:
I would put less of an emphasis on acquiring science facts than
understanding science process. I could argue that by understanding
the process one could rediscover all of science-if all science
knowledge was lost. Something akin to teaching someone to fish
rather than giving them the fish to eat.
Cheers,
Martin
>
>
>Jared Diamond in "Collapse" gave a nice definition: "Science is
>reliable knowledge about our world"
>I brought this up with Hooley McLaughlin last year when we were
>doing the prep work for our ASTC session ""Gutless no More- What
>exhibits science centers should be doing" and Hooley disagreed. "
>Science is a process, it is not knowledge." So modifying the
>statement for Hooley's point makes it:
>Science is the acquisition of reliable knowledge about our world.
>
>But I have to disagree with Hooley and told him so then; I think
>that science is both the process and the knowledge. The point of
>science IS the knowledge, specifically the knowledge of knowing what
>is happening now so we can guide our labors in the future. For
>isn't the most fundamental role of science is the improving the
>quality of human life? Knowing what is happening so that we have
>the resources we need to live well cannot be a game of chance. We
>need reliable knowledge and the process of science gives it to us.
>For example, the science of farming is knowing what to plant in what
>soil, when it is going to come up and how to harvest it and cook
>it.
>The process of figuring out that knowledge base was done a long,
>long time ago, but we can still refer to it as a science, the
>science of farming.
>
>The fact that we have more knowledge than ever is really something
>to celebrate.
>The problems that we face on this planet have to do with applying
>that knowledge to guide our endeavours. Think global warming or the
>depletion of oil. We know these are happening. The way to deal
>with them is to choose wisely what we manufacture now. I personally
>cringe at every high horsepower heavy vehicle we continue to
>produce, knowing what we know today, that our vehicles and our farm
>machinery run out of oil within our own lifetimes, and that global
>warming is changing the parameters of every single ecosystem we've
>got. We can and should apply the science we know to these problems
>to solve them. We still want transportation, so our society doesn't
>collapse, so all of us in society can get to the jobs we are all
>specialists at, so we can get our food, so we can enjoy our culture,
>including science centers.
>We've got to act now. Yes, do help define science for 7 and under,
>but also for all of us.
>
>Science is central to the quality of our lives, through the
>application of science-based (reliable) knowledge to the actions we
>take.
>
>Central to this particular discussion is what is the role of our
>science centers? If we are going to be more than just entertainment
>centers we need to attempt such things as clearly defining science
>and its role for all of our human society.
>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>[log in to unmask]
--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
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