Science a la Carte?

Shirley M. Malcom

Where’s the Beef?

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Low levels of public science literacy

• What people know

• What people believe

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Science and Public Policy

• Global warming

• Stem cell research

• HIV / AIDS

Science and Politics?

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Is there a place for science-based decision-making in today’s political environment?

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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The danger of false dichotomies

• Environment vs. economy

• Public health vs. sexual permissiveness

• Religion vs. science

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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When science is necessary

• Economic development

• National security

• Quality of life

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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When science is “inconvenient”

• Clash of values

• Implications are politically unpalatable

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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When science is confusing

• Tentative nature

• “There’s theory and then there’s theory”

• When “experts” disagree

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Culture wars?

• A response to uncertainty?

• Slowing the pace of change?

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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What opportunity to understand the nature of science?

• The role of formal education

• The role of informal education

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Early education in science is essential foradult literacy

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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What happens in school?

• Sense making

• Science as a dynamic body of knowledge

• Nature of science

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

13Source: Horizon Research, Inc.

Mean Ratings of Indicators of Quality of Mathematics/Science Content: K-12

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

14 Source: Horizon Research, Inc.

Mathematics / Science Is Portrayed as Dynamic Body of Knowledge

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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Source: Horizon Research, Inc.

Content Focus of Observed Lessons: Science

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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The View from College

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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The Nature of Science

Health as a CompellingPersonal Topic

SCIENCE A LA CARTE? WHERE’S THE BEEF?

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What to do?