Public Understanding of Science
Scientists’ effort to emphasize public understanding of science should not be “non-responded echo” anymore. As many people have recognized, science has become an important part of public life, making it hard to live without technological tools even for a day. Furthermore, biological issues such as the avian flu crisis or the production of genetically modified foods have yielded social economic concerns including debates on food production and safety. Such a link between science and our lives confirms the idea of learning science as common sense.
However, although science has been increasingly taking part in the public life, the public has shown little interest in learning science. Experts say the lack of interest in science is the result of the belief that science is a “special field” that belongs to scientists, but not the lay public. Additionally, since most scientific technological tools require little knowledge to use it, the public often doesn’t feel a need to understand complex mechanisms of science.
In the meantime, some insist that the enhancement of public understanding of science depends on the scientists’ ability of explaining and teaching it in an understandable manner. However, so-called scientific knowledge is what scientists have earned after spending tens of years researching. So they can hardly interpret complicated phenomena in a simple way.
However, even without the help of scientists, the public by themselves can absolutely earn enough knowledge to understand scientific issues. Newspaper coverage and Internet news web sites have become highly specialized in organizing important information for the public. They also can search more in depth by reading magazines and books.
The New York Times set up a special report section “Times Topic” for noticeable social and scientific issues. Once you enter interested topics in search engine of The front page of the New York Times, you can access to the Times Topic session. What I have recently enjoyed reading is news on Avian Flu . I will update recent news on avian flu soon.
However, although science has been increasingly taking part in the public life, the public has shown little interest in learning science. Experts say the lack of interest in science is the result of the belief that science is a “special field” that belongs to scientists, but not the lay public. Additionally, since most scientific technological tools require little knowledge to use it, the public often doesn’t feel a need to understand complex mechanisms of science.
In the meantime, some insist that the enhancement of public understanding of science depends on the scientists’ ability of explaining and teaching it in an understandable manner. However, so-called scientific knowledge is what scientists have earned after spending tens of years researching. So they can hardly interpret complicated phenomena in a simple way.
However, even without the help of scientists, the public by themselves can absolutely earn enough knowledge to understand scientific issues. Newspaper coverage and Internet news web sites have become highly specialized in organizing important information for the public. They also can search more in depth by reading magazines and books.
The New York Times set up a special report section “Times Topic” for noticeable social and scientific issues. Once you enter interested topics in search engine of The front page of the New York Times, you can access to the Times Topic session. What I have recently enjoyed reading is news on Avian Flu . I will update recent news on avian flu soon.
posted by choi at 11:23 AM
3 Comments:
Hey Choi,
I found your blog. I'm glad you're focusing on science too, there's a lot out there. Do you think the Avian Flu buzz is dying down? I saw that there were some cases in Egypt recently but other than that the issue has been absent from the press lately.
Funny you mention that Sarah, because I just heard about the woman in Nigeria that supposedly died of bird flu (first reported human death). Check out the address below, and you should see bird flu in the news again.
http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-articles-6153.html
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