SCIENCE FOR AGED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: THE GOLDEN PROJECTOR

Science 4 Sissies - At [the] presidential debate McCain called out Obama for earmarking $3 million dollars to buy an overhead projector for a planetarium in Chicago. As a former high school algebra I teacher, I am very familiar with overhead projectors. I know, for a fact. that they do not cost $3 million dollars. Mainly because I broke one once. . . Later, I was told by the janitor, as he helped me clean up the broken glass, that the projectors cost about $100. Not $3 million.

So what was McCain talking about? . . . Well, it turns out that he was referring to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, who released this statement: "The Adler Planetarium requested federal support - which was not funded - to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler's Zeiss Mark VI projector - not an overhead projector - is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler's projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler's 78 years of operation."

Science literacy is an urgent issue in the United States. To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math."

The lesson here is that McCain apparently doesn't think too highly of science education for our children. Many of the kids who would go to this planetarium in Chicago do not get to see much of the night sky very well due to light pollution.