1) I don't know of any case where an interest group in society ABC is
labeled as being society XYZ. I'm a chemical engineer who now works
somewhat in the realm of physical chemistry and chemical physics, but I
can't imagine having an "AIChE" interest group within the American Chemical
Society (or, for that matter, an "ACS" interest group within AIChE) for
people like me. These crossovers are accomodated somewhat by a
"Fundamentals" programming group in AIChE and an "Industrial & Engineering
Chemistry" section of ACS.
My point here is that I think it would make more sense to have generic
"Christian" interest groups within these societies rather than "ASA" groups.
Most engineers have never heard of ASA, so I think a "Christian" label in
the group would have more appeal. It would, of course, be appropriate and
desirable for the ASA to be publicized within such groups.
2) I wonder if some of the goals could be met by going the other direction,
from within ASA. ASA already has special subgroups for Geologists and
Biologists. What about an Affiliation of Christian Engineers set up along
the same lines? I actually have mixed feelings about that suggestion, since
such subgroups could proliferate endlessly (imagine the Affiliation of
Christian Synthetic Organic Chemists) and could produce splinters too small
to be useful. Presumably the 2 existing subgroups reflect the fact that
geologists and biologists are most heavily impacted by recent science/faith
controversies (Galileo might have needed an Affiliation of Christian
Astronomers) - I don't think the same holds for engineers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Dr. Allan H. Harvey | aharvey@boulder.nist.gov |
| Physical and Chemical Properties Division | Phone: (303)497-3555 |
| National Institute of Standards & Technology | Fax: (303)497-5224 |
| 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303 | |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "Don't blame the government for what I say, or vice versa." |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------