I came across this little gem this a.m.:
Scientific literacy: Americans lead but could do better
Submitted by Vidura Panditaratne on Sat, 2007-02-17 16:44.Africa | Americas | Sci | United States | News
Americans are more scientifically literate than Europeans or Japanese, but 70 percent of them cannot understand the New York Times science section, according to Michigan State University researcher.
Participating in an American Association for the Advancement of Science symposium, titled "Science Literacy and Pseudoscience," MSU’s Jon Miller said that Americans, while slightly ahead of their European counterparts when it comes to scientific knowledge, still have a long way to go.
"A slightly higher proportion of American adults qualify as scientifically literate than European or Japanese adults, but the truth is that no major industrial nation in the world today has a sufficient number of scientifically literate adults," he said. "We should take no pride in a finding that 70 percent of Americans cannot read and understand the science section of the New York Times."
Approximately 28 percent of American adults currently qualify as scientifically literate, an increase from around 10 percent in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to Miller’s research.
A professor in political science, Miller said one reason for the Americans’ slim lead is that the United States is the only major nation in the world that requires its college students to take general science courses.
"Although university science faculties have often viewed general education requirements with disdain," he said, "analyses indicate that the courses promote civic scientific literacy among U.S. adults despite the disappointing performance of American high school students in international testing."
Adding to the United States’ relatively good showing is Americans’ use of informal science education resources, such as science magazines, news magazines, science museums and the Internet.
Why is it important to have a population wise in the ways of science? Miller listed several reasons, including the need for a more sophisticated work force; a need for more scientifically literate consumers, especially when it comes to purchasing electronics; and, equally as important, a scientifically literate electorate who can help shape public policy.
"Over recent decades, the number of public policy controversies that require some scientific or technical knowledge for effective participation has been increasing," he said. "Any number of issues, including the siting of nuclear power plants, nuclear waste disposal facilities, and the use of embryonic stem cells in biomedical research point to the need for an informed citizenry in the formulation of public policy."
To be classified as "scientifically literate," Miller said one must be able to understand approximately 20 of 31 scientific concepts and terms similar to those that would be found in articles that appear in the New York Times weekly science section and in an episode of the PBS program "NOVA."
What are the 31 concepts???
Some of the questions:
Provide a correct open-ended definition of a molecule
Provide a correct open-ended definition of DNA
Disagree that “Antibiotics kills viruses as well as bacteria”
Disagree that “Lasers work by focusing sound waves”
Agree that “Electrons are smaller than atoms”
Indicate that the Earth goes around the Sun once each year through a pair of closed-ended questions
Disagree that “The earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs”
Disagree that “All radioactivity is man-made”
Indicate that light travels faster than sound
Disagree that “Radioactive milk can be made safe by boiling it”
Agree that “The continents on which we live have been moving their location for millions of years and will continue to move in the future”
Agree that “The center of the Earth is very hot”
Guys, I’m sorry, and I’m not holding myself out as some kind of genius (even though I am), but I knew the answers to all these questions when I was 9 YEARS OLD!!! Not only that, but the last 2 generations of kids don't seem to know SHIT about -
- General economic principles, especially how capitalism works viz-a-viz socialism and fascism and
- How their own government works, how a bill becomes law, the role of the 3 branches of government and how they check on each other and
- Practical military and statecraft necessity and yet more, and possibly worst of all
- NO ( and I mean NONE) knowledge of history of any kind. They are taught Asian folklore and African fairy tales and vague insipid generalities about so-called "Hispanic" culture (does ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE HELL THAT IS? I have a PhD in Economic History and I don't have a clue) and nothing about Europe, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, etc.
The end is truly near, and I'm just waiting for the bus
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