Re: paleonet SFO fossil exhibit: Good example for many

[Peter Paul Smolka <smolka@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005, Peter Roopnarine wrote:

> Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 17:52:24 -0700
> From: Peter Roopnarine <proopnarine@calacademy.org>
> Reply-To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
> To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
> Subject: paleonet SFO fossil exhibit
> 
Dear exhibit planners,
Dear Peter,

the installation accident of an CAS exhibit at SFO airport has
a good side which can be utilized.

First the issue:

( ... )

>  Your comments on the CAS exhibit at SFO, on Paleonet, were just
> brought to my attention. ( ... )
> Installation of the exhibit was delayed by more than 6 months after it
> left CAS because of unscheduled construction at the airport, and I have

( ... )
>  I will not thank you for airing your comments publicly on Paleonet.

( ... )

Now the good sides:

(1) Other institutions, also on other continents can feel encouraged
to follow the CAS example. Wether it is Frankfurt Airport, the
Lounge at Frankfurt Railway station and so forth.

I must admit I remember the H. Stern (minerals, incl. carbon) exhibits
on airports. I never thought about Paleontology: Congratulations
for this good idea.

It can also be micropaleontology and paleoclimatology.

Without this posting on paleonet others, including me, would not have
got knowledge about this really good CAS example.


(2) CAS and others can also install a donation point: Simply
a credit card machine, comparable to telephones in planes and
the amount to donate.

The sums will not be large but they will be.

Why I regard it as realistical:

Lufthansa has in their skyshop catalogue also regularly an ad
for a foundation that cares about family members and relatives
from plane accidents (e.g. pilots, flight attendants, relatives, also
from low finance countries).

Being happy of being flown without accident I was regularly inclined
to donate something (small amounts) to those who had not been so happy
right on the spot inside the plane
(comparable to the inflight shopping). A credit card charge was not
possible (only a bank account given). So I never
donated something to them.

Above follows this "on-the-spot" donation-scheme.

(3) The different habits of passengers compared to museum visitors
should however be kept in mind.

Sitting in a lounge and viewing the display without getting up: Fine.

Rushing to the bus, bypassing a display, will never lead to stopping.

(4) An old computer can also be installed where the visitor can e-mail
to his own address a well-sorted linklist with a signpost like:
Want to know more: E-mail this link-list to you.

Of course with a privacy policy that the address is only used for
sending this url/linklist.

Without this SFO airport accident that good CAS idea would possibly not
have been known to many.


>  Best wishes,
>  Peter Roopnarine
>
Best regards and good luck

Another Peter

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Dr. Peter P. Smolka
University Muenster
Geological Institute
Corrensstr. 24
D-48149 Muenster

Tel.: +49/251/833-3989   +49/2533/4401
Fax:  +49/251/833-3989   +49/2533/4401
E-Mail: smolka@uni-muenster.de
E-Mail: PSmolka@T-Online.de
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