Reading the flurry of messages that resulted of the Smithsonian - ID
interaction and following the ongoing "debate" in Kansas and other
states regarding the inclusion of ID in the science curriculum, I am
left with only one question: what can scientists do to present their
side of the issue?  

I would like to hear from others what they think would be an effective
way of conveying to the general public what science is all about.
Specifically, how can we show people how evolution works, how it
pertains to all of us, and yet avoid making it boring?  What new
technologies exist that would help present this information in a way
that captures people's imagination, draws them in and helps them
understand this potentially confusing topic? 

I have seen wonderful displays on human evolution (The AMNH display and
the Museum of Man in San Diego come to mind). I wonder if others could
share what they have seen and what works and what does not.  

The challenge coming from creationists and ID proponents is real. Anyone
thinking differently is sadly mistaken.  I think we all know that.
However, where do we go from here?  Sustained efforts are necessary to
present the case of evolution. We can not afford to remain passive and
hope that this will all go away. It will not.  I am looking forward to
the input and ideas from all of you out there. 

Thanks,

Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Ph.D.
Curator of Anthropology
Houston Museum of Natural Science. 
Dirk at hmns.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Eric Johnson
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 2:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Smithsonian out-maneuvered...

Stephen, you raise an interesting point.  Could it be argued, then, that

scientists should make more of an effort to bridge the gap between the 
general public and their own views?  I keep coming back to this when I
read 
all the points of this discussion--that with a little more effort on the

part of scientists, all of this might not be an issue.  "Just want[ing]
to 
focus on the science" no longer does the trick.  I'm not talking about 
"dumbing down," I'm talking about an intentional educating.

(And, I note, museums are the perfect vehicle to lead that charge.)

I have no doubt that the suggestion brings a frustrated "Well, of course

that's what we're trying to do!" from some readers.  But I can't help
but 
feel that so long as scientists take a lofty stance that the truth
should be 
self-apparent, they're (we're) going to lose; the very lack of 
"self-apparency" is what prevents the public from siding with scientists
in 
so many instances.  Many people don't feel like science is something
they 
can grasp; so if someone comes along and derides the science, it's not
hard 
to nod along.  That gap needs to be intentionally bridged by people who
know 
what they're doing.

People aren't inherently stupid, I don't think, but as a species we're 
basically lazy (call it energy-conserving).  If we think it's important
that 
the public understands the science, it's up to us to make it clear for
them, 
rather than waiting for them to figure it out.

Just my $0.02 on a Friday afternoon.

--Eric

Eric D. M. Johnson
Proprietor
The Village Factsmith Historical Research & Consulting
http://www.factsmith.com/
[log in to unmask]



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Nowlin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Smithsonian out-maneuvered...


 Scientists,
stereotypically but true, just want to focus on the science -- and they
believe that by simply practicing science, it will ultimately triumph
over
ignorance.  In a different political climate I probably would have
agreed --
but now we see how the fervor of religious conservatism can begin to get
its
grip on a country, and we watch the spectacle of political leaders and
hopefuls, left and right, tripping over themselves to display their
religious leanings and garner the support of that growing bloc of
voters.

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