How can we develop the scientific literacy of the science, policy and public communities?
I think the key to improving science literacy is developing the education system so there isn’t such a huge gulf between people who study science and people who don’t. Science courses need to incorporate elements which help future scientists develop their communication skills, and science in school should be taught in a way which encourages our natural interest in science, rather than stifling it. Even if people don’t pursue a scientific career, they wouldn’t be so suspicious and negative about being able to understand scientists if they were taught in a way which was engaging and helped develop a basic literacy in science. If you wait to try to ‘re-engage’ adults with science, it’s probably too late to make a big difference.
– Sarah Day - Science Journalist and Broadcaster
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October 11th, 2008 - 5:11 pm
The problem goes deeper than the education system - which, of course, is not perfect.
The general public are more educated in many quite complex non-scientific areas such as fashion, sport, music and many other subjects.
These are the topics for everyday conversation and most people would be embarrassed to admit total ignorance.
In contrast, I have heard Radio 4 presenters sounding proud when they say they have no grasp of a scientific topic.
This is a cultural predjudice similar to (the now old-fashioned) racial predjudice, in that it makes blanket assumptions about all science and scientists, (difficult-dull-dangerous).
As a start, some opinion leaders such as media presenters, perhaps even on Radio 1, should be made aware of the problem they are causing and asked to help by watching the way they talk.