CNN: 5 questions for the VP of the Field Museum of Chicago

I just happened to catch this Saturday mid-morning. You really only need the questions to get the feel of this informative piece. The answers ARE at the link.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007219&docId=l:366864065&start=38

ROESGEN: Now a new exhibit in Chicago. In some places these days the theory of evolution is under attack. In classrooms across the country, evolution has been shunned in favor of religious theories about the origin of life, ideas like creationism and intelligent design.




But evolution is getting a boost in Chicago. Dinosaurs rule at the Chicago Field Museum's new exhibit, "Evolving Planet," an exhibit that proclaims this is the way we got here. The field museum's vice president of collections and research Lance Grande joins us from Chicago. Lance, tell us a little bit about this exhibit.

LANCE GRANDE, THE FIELD MUSEUM: Well, this exhibit is the most major exhibit that we have done since the museum opened in its present location. It's an amazing thing. It covers 27,000 square feet and there are over 1,300 unique fossils in the exhibit and there are over 150 interactive displays throughout the exhibit, very engaging.

ROESGEN: Was there any debate about launching this exhibit within the museum?

ROESGEN: What kind of reaction are you getting from people who come to this exhibit, good and bad?

ROESGEN: You haven't had any negative reaction from people who are believers of creationism or intelligent design?

ROESGEN: So I take it you don't have any little blurbs or disclaimers there saying there are alternative theories of the origin of life?

ROESGEN: What do you hope that parents and children take away from this exhibit?

ROESGEN: All right, thank you, Lance Grande with The Field Museum there in Chicago. Tony?

The interview was bizarre. She really seemed to be hoping the Museum had people complain and wouldn't let it go when the director said there hadn't been any complaints.

I loved his answer to the question about disclaimes for alternate theories. He said it wasn't the job of the Museum to present alternate theories.

What would presenting alternate theories look like? A creationist standing in front of a blank screen for a couple of hours presenting nothing, since there is nothing to present. That would sure draw crowds.

Mz Pip
:dem:

Geographic.

Maybe we both saw it differently than was intended. She sure seemed to want him to say that indeed some creationist had gone out of their way to go to an exhibit like that only to complain.

I don't know it did seem strange.

Looks like a great place to take kids.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/07/0731_roesgen.html