Blog in the Fog

I apologize for the lack of my lovely image, but I am writing from the business office of my motel in Philidelphia.

I recently attended a conference for science centers and museums in the great city of Philidelphia. One of the sessions dealt with story telling as a means of introducing science topics to a public that is at times leary of science and scientists. One of the participents took the rather narrow line that story telling was inherently dishonest and should therfore be avoided, always. After all, he reasoned, fancy has no place in a discussion of how the world works, which made me think of rainbows.

I can't honestly remember when I saw my first rainbow, but I do know that I thought it was a fine and lovely thing whether I used such words to describe it or not. I also remember that the first explanation of the rainbow that I heard involved a determined fellow called Noah, a wicked world and a promise from a trustworthy diety. Now, I have always been a rather contrary sort even as a child and though I was not convinced that the story was true, I did think it was a comforting thought that went very well with the beauty of the rainbow.

Much later I learned about sunlight and water drops and how the world of science described the apparent miracle of the rainbow and that was a very satisfying moment in my life, for it enabled me to not only understand the rainbow, but to anticipate its appearence. Today, when the rain stops and the sun peaks out in just the right way, I look for the rainbow and never need to miss it. Science has enabled me to experience the beauty of the rainbow more often and that is certainly a good thing. But, whenever I see it a part of me remembers that first more meaningful explanation and the experience is more deeply felt.

There may come a day when only truth is allowed to enter the hearts and minds of the strange and fragile creatures that we call human. That will for this space science educator be a sad day, indeed.