BCCE, Purdue Univ Public Understanding of Science: Past, Present & Future What Can We Do As Chemists and Educators? Penny J. Gilmer Florida State University

BCCE, Purdue Univ Organization of talk Public Understanding of Science 1.Past NSF surveys A Private Universe (DVD), Harvard-Smithsonian 2.Present Chemistry Is in the News, Rainer Glaser Vega Science Trust, Sir Harold Kroto 3.Future What we can do as chemists and educators?

BCCE, Purdue Univ In the past… NSF surveys of the public’s understanding of science and technology using true/false questions (2004 or most recent) NSF % Correct response to specific literary questions Arrow indicates 50% correct response rate Lasers work by focusing sound waves. (False) It is the father’s gene that decides whether the baby is a boy or a girl. (True) US ‘04 China ‘01 S.Korea ‘04 Japan ‘01 Malaysia ‘00 EU-25 ‘05 Russia ‘03

BCCE, Purdue Univ Science terms and concepts (NSF) With US, lower % correct on issue related to evolution of earth Arrow indicates 50% correct response % correct responses All radioactivity is man-made. (False) The center of the Earth is very hot. (True) The universe began with a huge explosion. (True) S. Korea China S. Korea China US Japan

BCCE, Purdue Univ Scientific terms and concepts (NSF) % responses correct 4060 Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria (False) Electrons are smaller than atoms (True) 2080 Less than 50% of all countries tested knew electrons are smaller than atoms US Russia Korea China Europe US

BCCE, Purdue Univ More scientific terms and concepts (NSF) Human beings are developed from earlier species of animals. (True) The continents have been moving their locations for millions of years and will continue to move. (True) % correct response US ties for lowest % correct responses to question on evolution of animals. Japan Russia US S. Korea Europe Russia

BCCE, Purdue Univ Two questions on scientific terms and concepts (with word answers, NSF, 2001)NSF 1.How long does it take for the Earth to go around the Sun? (1 year)  In US, 48% answered it correctly 2.Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? (Earth goes around the sun)  In US, 72% answered it correctly

BCCE, Purdue Univ Also weak understanding of scientific process (NSF)NSF Word questions on scientific process in US  On how scientists conduct an experiment 43%  47% correct from ‘01 to ‘04  On explaining probability 57%  64% correct from ‘01 to ‘04  On what it means to study something scientifically (only ‘04) 23% could explain correctly in own words

BCCE, Purdue Univ On pseudoscience gaining ground in US “…many Americans accept pseudoscientific beliefs” [such as UFOs, astrology, ESP, lucky numbers, etc.] (Losh et al.,2003) People with these beliefs  lack critical thinking skills  an understanding of how scientists weigh evidence Three out of four Americans believe in paranormal (Gallup poll, 2005)

BCCE, Purdue Univ A Private Universe DVD of programs made by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (funded partially by NSF and Annenberg/CPB) It shows even educated people can hold onto misconceptions, their own private ideas of how the world works. Try out your students’ ideas here.here

BCCE, Purdue Univ New book on beliefs by Lewis Wolpert Human reasoning is “beset with logical problems that include  overdependence on authority,  overemphasis on coincidence,  distortion of the evidence,  circular reasoning,  use of anecdotes,  ignorance of science and  failures of logic” Reviewed in the NY Times, 25 July 06

BCCE, Purdue Univ Present: Rainer Glaser has Chemistry Is in the News Web site Chemistry Is in the News Site includes  Critical thinking  Collaboration  Peer review  Technology I use it successfully in biochemistry classrooms

BCCE, Purdue Univ Present: Sir Harold Kroto’s Vega Science Trust Web siteVega Science Trust Site includes  Interviews: Perutz, Dresselhaus, Ernst, Rotblat and more  Lectures: Feynman, Mullis, Blobel, and other Nobel laureates  Workshops for K-12 teachers  Early career scientists  Kroto’s own C 60 lectures

BCCE, Purdue Univ Future: What can you do to improve the public’s understanding of science?

BCCE, Purdue Univ Future: 1.Learn cognitive theories of how people learn and apply with your own students a.K-12 b.Undergraduate c.Graduate 2.Get grants with NSF, NIH, NASA, Dreyfus Foundation, to improve science education at any level Monograph from current GK-12 grant I have at FSU For monograph, contact

BCCE, Purdue Univ Future 3.Learn theories of education Two powerful sociological theories I use in researching my own biochemistry classrooms:  Cultural historical activity theory  Theory of structure Theory into practice

BCCE, Purdue Univ. 2006

Two interacting activity systems

BCCE, Purdue Univ SewellSewell’s theory of structure Through the theory of structure we understand that there is a dialectical tension between structure and agency, in which one influences the other. Structure  Agency

BCCE, Purdue Univ Later this week: Here at BCCE attend sessions on theoretical frameworks (part of Research in Chemical Education) Wed. afternoon Thurs. morning