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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