Public Scientific Literacy: A Different Kind of Communication Skill Linda D. Strausbaugh Professor Emerita of Genetics and Genomics Member, UConn Institute for Systems Genomics Director, , UConn’s PSM in Applied Genomics Member, NPSMA Board of Directors, Prepared for the NPSMA Newsletter Last revised summer 2015

Scientific Literacy Scientific literacy is the capacity to use scientific knowledge, to identify questions and to draw evidence-based conclusions in order to understand and help make decisions about the natural world and the changes made to it through human activity. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2003:132–33)

Information and illustrations in this workshop presentation are taken from the latest study, Science and Engineering Indicators 2014.

Assessing American’s Knowledge since 1979  Biennial survey of knowledge and attitudes toward science (General Social Survey).  Proper design of a scientific study  Views about whether pseudoscientific belief systems, such as astrology, could be considered scientific.  Understanding of probability  Understanding of basic constructs

Why Public Literacy/Communication? Important for PSM graduates: Career success in heterogeneous teams Science Ambassadors (public policy & public education) Workshop as calibration for our students: What does the public know about science? How does the public learn this information?

Because the public is interested…

Yet they don’t understand what scientists do or how they do it…

Most Americans see scientists and engineers as “dedicated people who work for the good of humanity.” As PSM graduates, you are members of a group the public trusts and you should take opportunities to help educate.

Science and Engineering Indicators Factual Knowledge Section  Short list of factual questions  Physical sciences & biological sciences  % of respondents who knew the correct answer  Comparative data: time, gender, age, international

The Workshop  Create groups (4-10 members) & ask each to select names for the team.  Provide questions & ask teams to identify the question most US respondents answered correctly.  After a few minutes, ask the team “spokesperson” to provide the group’s choice.  Reveal whether any teams have the correct answer for that round, award points.  If there is a correct response, conduct a brief discussion of how students think the public knows this bit of factual information.  Repeat for the next round.

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…… The center of the Earth is very hot. (True) 84% How do you think that the public comes to know this information?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the correct answer is…… The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years and will continue to move in the future. (True) 83% How do you think that the public comes to know this information?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is……. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? (Earth around Sun) 74% How do you think that the public comes to know this information?

There was a follow-up question…. Asked only of those who knew that the Earth went around the Sun: How long does it take for the Earth to go around the Sun? What percentage of respondents to the survey do you think answered correctly “one year”?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…… All radioactivity is man-made. (False) 72% How do you think the public learns this?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…… It is the father’s gene that decides whether the baby is a boy or a girl. (True) 63% How do you think the public learns this?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…… Electrons are smaller than atoms. (True) 53% How do you think the public learns this?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…….. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. (False) 51% How do you think the public comes to know this?

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…….. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. (True) 48% How do you think the public comes to know this?

Scientific theories versus natural world facts……  48% identified as true: “human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals” (compare to 70% Europeans, 76% Japanese) Increased to 72% with the preface “according to the theory of evolution.”

1. The center of the Earth is very hot. 2. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. 3. The continents on which we live have been moving their locations for millions of years & will continue to move in the future. 4. Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? 5. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. 6. All radioactivity is man-made. 7. Electrons are smaller than atoms. 8. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. 9. The father’s genes decide whether the baby is a boy or a girl. 10. The universe began with a huge explosion.

And the answer is…….. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. (False) 47% How do you think the public comes to know this?

And the answer is…….. The universe began with a huge explosion. (True) 39% How do you think the public comes to know this?

Scientific theories versus natural world facts……  39% of respondents said that “the universe began with a huge explosion” Increased to 60% with the preface “according to astronomers.”

Some generalizations… correct answers similar to prior surveys. Men perform better on questions in physical sciences. About the same as Europe, better than other nations.

Gender matters, mostly on physical science topics. Education matters. Science and mathematics courses in college matter.

Knowledge & Attitudes depend on availability of S&T news…. Do students know how to evaluate sources? 63% of online respondents read newspapers. Can our graduates write an effective letter to the editor about science?

“Exposure and attention to S&T can make residents more informed, shape attitudes, and help them make decisions that are better for themselves, their families, and their communities.”