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

It is pretty damning that the NSTA considers material about global
warming to be "of little, if any benefit". Clearly, educating about
science that has current events relevance is low on their priority list.

[In fairness/full disclosure, let's not forget that one of the major
sponsors of the 2005 ASTC Conference was Phillip Morris.] 

Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
The Children's Museum

I cannot stress enough that nearly without exception one cannot randomly
combine a collection of circuitry and power supplies into an object and
"accidentally discover" that it is a fully functioning death ray. I
speak here from bitter experience.

-James Kakalios, "The Physics of Super Heroes"

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 6:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Op Ed in Today's WaPost

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

Hello Matthew and all:

I recommend reading the entire editorial, which is considerably more  
damning than David's synopsis.  NSTA explicitly states that  
distributing these might interfere with its fundraising efforts for a  
capital campaign, which includes many corporate donors.   In  
addition, NSTA *does* distribute material, including videos, funded  
by large energy companies.  I assume there must be NSTA staff on the  
ISEN listserv, and I would be very curious to hear how NSTA responds  
to this in more detail.  On the face of it, this is a terrible  
decision on NSTA's part.

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
718 699 0005 x 317
www.nyscience.org


On Nov 26, 2006, at 10:04 PM, Matthew White wrote:

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

> *******
>
> There was an interesting piece in the Outlook section of the  
> Washington Post this morning that I thought I would bring to the  
> attention of hte group for discussion.
>
> The article was written by Laurie David,  one of the producers of  
> Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."
>
> The article can be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ 
> content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400789.html
>
> A brief synopsis:
>
> Apparently the makers of the movie wanted to give thousands of  
> copies away to schools. They contacted the NSTA and offered them  
> 50,000 copies for distribution. The NSTA declined the offer. Here  
> is the pertinent paragraph with their reply:
>
> "In their e-mail rejection, they expressed concern that other  
> "special interests" might ask to distribute materials, too; they  
> said they didn't want to offer "political" endorsement of the film;  
> and they saw "little, if any, benefit to NSTA or its members" in  
> accepting the free DVDs."
>
> The article then goes on to compare that position with the NSTA's  
> cooperation, some would say complicity, in helping the oil industry  
> deliver their curriculum materials. They also point out that many  
> of the programs that the NSTA has developed in past years have been  
> paid for by companies like Texaco and Exxon/Mobil.
>
> The issue is more complicated than the author makes it appear, but  
> she does have a point.
>
>
> The points I thought worthy of discussion here:
>
> 1. Is this typical NSTA behavior? I am not familiar with NSTA as I  
> don't work much directly with Science Teachers.  Are the Petroleum  
> Industry sponsored curriculum materials as pro-energy usage and pro- 
> petroleum industry as the author suggests? I recall the Reddy  
> Kilowatt character from my youth and he certainly was.
>
> 2. We all need money to produce our programs Many (most) of us  
> apply, compete for , and sometimes even win grants from  
> eleemosynary arms of large corporate entities that have  vested  
> interests in specific public policies and even candidates.  The  
> problems in censorship, external, internal and self, has been  
> chewed over ad nauseam in the museum and popular press.  But as a  
> Director of a small center that takes corporate funding that is  
> part of a larger entity that takes corporate funding, that is part  
> of an even larger institution that takes corporate funding I find  
> the NSTA decision odd. When you accept this type of money you have  
> to be MORE careful not to appear biased. This move seems tailored  
> made for controversy.
>
> Anyway, I have rambled on. Sorry.
>
> Discuss among yourselves.
>
>
>
>
>
> Matthew White
> Director, Hands On Science Center
> National Museum of American History
> Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
> 202/633-3698
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************

> *
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http:// 
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***********************************************************************
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
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