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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I can see your point about making sure a balanced approach is used. I
think it would be our job as science educators to be sure we use
something like this DVD to open discussion and provide access to as much
information as we can. 

As our president says often "We should be a safe place to discuss
dangerous ideas." You are correct that we should present objective
information. Maybe the way to do it with this DVD is to make sure that
we provide some context when distributing the DVD. We could provide
forums for discussing the pros and cons of the documentary in terms of
how to present scientific results - promoting critical thinking and
analysis. 

I don't know all the answers, I just see an opportunity. Maybe the
discussion on this list serve can ferret out some of those answers.
Thanks for the thoughtful response.

Heather Gibbons 
Education Enrichment Manager
 
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Ave N| Seattle, WA 98109 
Phone: 206/443-3636 | Fax: 206/443-6600

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Evan Koblentz
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 10:23 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.
************************************************************************
*****

>>>>> It says that there are thousands of DVDs sitting in a warehouse.
Why
don't we, ASTC and science centers, see if we can get them and
distribute
them? We are also leading advocates for balanced science in this
country. We
should discuss the position of the NSTA as a leading science education
organization, but we should also take action as another leading science
education group. This is one way for us to remain relevant and important
resources for our communities. What do you think?

I have some concerns about this.  I love to give away free educational
materials, I recognize that global warming is a real scientific problem,
and
hey, I'm a bleeding-heart liberal.  But I also recognize that Gore's
film
is, in fact, slanted to one side of the story.  Science centers, nor
science
teachers, nor governments, nor any other group that exists by and for
"the
people" should be distributing anything but purely objective materials.
So
if we accept and distribute this film, doesn't that make us just as
hypocritical (or at least, open to controvery) as the NTSA?

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