State of the Museum: 1994 



A New President's Vision 

 of Science and Society 



In November, after her first week on the 

 job, the new president of the American 

 Museum of Natural History, Ellen V. Put- 

 ter, discussed with the editor of Natural 

 History her vision of the future of the Mu- 

 seum and its role in society. Excerpts from 

 the interview follow: 



This Museum has a unique capacity to 

 help each of us answer the underlying 

 question: Where do I fit in? When you 



look at what's shown here or think about 

 what goes on here, you begin to get, not 

 answers, but clues or pathways to thinking 

 about where you fit in, both biologically 

 and culturally. And that relates to how we 

 all get along. 



We have an attitude problem about sci- 

 ence in this country. But we can't concede 

 because of that. I think that this Museum 

 can play a unique role in informing the 



At an exhibit under construction. Museum President Ellen V. Putter stands in front 

 of a Diprotodon, the largest-known marsupial. The fossil will be on display when the 

 Halls of Mammals and Their Extinct Relatives open at the end of April 1994. 



Peter Goldberg 



4 Natural History 1/94 



pubhc about science because we can do it 

 in a way that no other type of institution 

 can. The minute you come through our 

 portals, your sense of wonder, your imagi- 

 nation are piqued. That's the beginning of 

 interest, the beginning of learning. We can 

 build on that spark both here and — in co- 

 operation with teachers — m the schools. 

 By putting together effective software and 

 other educational materials, we can have a 

 great impact. I am very committed to mak- 

 ing that happen. The class visit is the be- 

 ginning of a process: first, to get the stu- 

 dents to come back and, second, to 

 reinforce the visit and develop ways of 

 helping them learn on their own by using 

 our materials. This apphes to adults, too. 

 The technology revolution opens a new 

 world for museums. We can put together 

 primers and programs that speak to every- 

 one. I think lifelong learning about science 

 is important for children and adults. I 

 know it is important for society. 



Of course, fund raising is an important 

 part of this job. It's necessary to keep the 

 Museum active and at the forefront. How 

 we maintain what we do superbly and step 

 up to new obhgations — as a partner with 

 the city, as a partner with the schools, as a 

 major voice in national and global discus- 

 sions of social and scientific issues — is 

 one of the great challenges, one that will 

 require funding to do well. 



I have a great personal interest in 

 human rights, in social justice, in helping 

 all of us to get along. I suppose this reflects 

 in some measure my legal training. The 

 anthropological side of the Museum, with 

 its studies of the meaning and values of 

 cultural diversity, gives us a special role in 

 this city. Even as we take on a broader role 

 nationally and internationally in scientific 

 issues, we won't for one moment fail to be 



