Re: paleonet SFO fossil exhibit

[Peter Roopnarine <proopnarine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  Let me clear this up. The SFO Exhibits Department is responsible for
the installation of exhibits at SFO airport. CAS prepared the exhibit,
and transferred specimens and printed materials to them. Due to security
regulations, we are not permitted to install the exhibit. The tickets
that I referred to are not tickets to see the exhibit, they are airline
tickets. SFO exhibits are not in the main terminal, and only domestic
airline passengers, with tickets, are allowed to view the exhibit. I
cannot view the exhibit without purchasing an airline ticket, or
negotiating with TSA (Federal Transportation Security Authority) for
security clearance to the terminal. This differs from the procedures
that we were able to follow with previous CAS exhibits at the airport.
Obviously this procedure causes problems and leads to errors. My issue
with Peter (Ward) was not that he pointed to errors in the installation
of the exhibit. My issue rather is that instead of bringing it to the
attention of CAS, he assumed that it was the result of faulty science
and broadcast it to the Paleonet readership. Installing an exhibit with
errors (which always happens), versus not vetting an exhibit, versus
damaging one's scientific discipline, are all entirely different issues.
  I've said enough about this topic to both the readership and to Peter.
If you have additional questions, feel free to ask me, or better yet,
buy yourself a plane ticket and go see the exhibit.
Peter
-- 
Peter D. Roopnarine, Assoc. Curator
Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology & Geology
California Academy of Sciences
875 Howard St.
San Francisco CA 94103
Tel. (415)321-8271
FAX: (415)321-8615