1 1 Science and Society Some thoughts and observations. Edward M. Frymoyer Aug. 10, 2007 Some thoughts and observations. Edward M. Frymoyer Aug. 10, 2007

070810emf2 Where have we Been- Time Scales to Public Understanding  20th Century Physics Advances  Quantum Behavior ~ 100 years  Still not well understood  Quantum Theory ~ 100 years  Uncertainty, Entanglement not well understood  Relativity -- Somewhat understood  General Relativity - not understood  Standard Model -- written about- not understood  “Big Bang”, CBE -- symbolic only  Collective behavior - distributed systems  Still new science  20th Century Physics Advances  Quantum Behavior ~ 100 years  Still not well understood  Quantum Theory ~ 100 years  Uncertainty, Entanglement not well understood  Relativity -- Somewhat understood  General Relativity - not understood  Standard Model -- written about- not understood  “Big Bang”, CBE -- symbolic only  Collective behavior - distributed systems  Still new science

070810emf3 The Frontiers of Physics  Things of Our Curiosity/Imagination  May be Reality in the Next Period  Higgs Boson  Gravitational Wave Astronomy  Dark Matter  WIMPS  Dark Energy  Is there a Fifth Force at long Space Time “distances”  λ - Cosmological constant  EXPECT Surprises  Interdisciplinary programs produce breakthroughs  Things of Our Curiosity/Imagination  May be Reality in the Next Period  Higgs Boson  Gravitational Wave Astronomy  Dark Matter  WIMPS  Dark Energy  Is there a Fifth Force at long Space Time “distances”  λ - Cosmological constant  EXPECT Surprises  Interdisciplinary programs produce breakthroughs

070810emf4 Science and the Ideologs  Science requires thinking, models  Observation- demonstration - measurement  Dialog - Skepticism  “Work”  Errors are real, quantifiable  Ideology requires Belief  Generally static, “settled”  Error is absent  “Easy” - no thinking energy required  Centuries long conflict - recurring  Public understanding of Scientific Method weak in many places  Science requires thinking, models  Observation- demonstration - measurement  Dialog - Skepticism  “Work”  Errors are real, quantifiable  Ideology requires Belief  Generally static, “settled”  Error is absent  “Easy” - no thinking energy required  Centuries long conflict - recurring  Public understanding of Scientific Method weak in many places

070810emf5 Scales and Models  Scales in the Universe  From Plank to Cosmological  Different “Seeing” and models required for understanding  What the Institute is all about  Engaging the Public Understanding of our quest  Space-Time scales  Energy Scales  Gradually Gaining Public Perception  Scales in the Universe  From Plank to Cosmological  Different “Seeing” and models required for understanding  What the Institute is all about  Engaging the Public Understanding of our quest  Space-Time scales  Energy Scales  Gradually Gaining Public Perception

070810emf6 The Status of Public Science Information  Shows -- Sat/Cable TV  National Geographic Channel  Discovery Channel  Public Television - US & Foreign  Publications - Nature/Science great - others getting lean  A lot of new books about Science-- Physics, Relativity. Etc.  The Internet - good/great web sites  But-- Shrinking size and support for Science Columnists  Educated classes “get it”  Shows -- Sat/Cable TV  National Geographic Channel  Discovery Channel  Public Television - US & Foreign  Publications - Nature/Science great - others getting lean  A lot of new books about Science-- Physics, Relativity. Etc.  The Internet - good/great web sites  But-- Shrinking size and support for Science Columnists  Educated classes “get it”

070810emf7 The status of Scientific Understanding is getting better  Basic scientific literacy has almost tripled in the last two decades.  Now the US is second in the world at 28% -- behind Sweden.  In the UK - on a per capita basis 155/100 Science graduates to the US.  Other - Asian- countries the “quantity” is higher.  2005 Critical report has produced funding action - $38B- over three years US just signed for STEM education.  But is this good enough for a 21st Century science based society to be robust?  Where are the program funding $ to support the new crop of STEM graduates?  Basic scientific literacy has almost tripled in the last two decades.  Now the US is second in the world at 28% -- behind Sweden.  In the UK - on a per capita basis 155/100 Science graduates to the US.  Other - Asian- countries the “quantity” is higher.  2005 Critical report has produced funding action - $38B- over three years US just signed for STEM education.  But is this good enough for a 21st Century science based society to be robust?  Where are the program funding $ to support the new crop of STEM graduates?

070810emf8 So how do we decrease the Science/Society Gap?  Focus on communication-  Simple- but NOT sound bite items  Graphics and video methods- a visual society - Numerical/graphical methods are a great match  Spokespersons - effective, but skeptical  Great popular level blogs.  Engage the public curiosity/imagination  We no longer have the “fear”- nuclear weapons- factors working for us.  Continue publication of more “popular” level books- an important segment of society will read them.  More multinational programs  Focus on communication-  Simple- but NOT sound bite items  Graphics and video methods- a visual society - Numerical/graphical methods are a great match  Spokespersons - effective, but skeptical  Great popular level blogs.  Engage the public curiosity/imagination  We no longer have the “fear”- nuclear weapons- factors working for us.  Continue publication of more “popular” level books- an important segment of society will read them.  More multinational programs

070810emf9 Goals  Keep the level of Governmental Support up  Concerted work to raise the level of Government executive/official understanding and consistent support  Combat the “politicalization of science"  Philanthropy  Increase the level of  Private foundation support  Private business  Leverage the travel industry  Emphasize longer term institutional  We cannot do much with short term “grant chasing” here  Progress in Physics takes a while  Keep the level of Governmental Support up  Concerted work to raise the level of Government executive/official understanding and consistent support  Combat the “politicalization of science"  Philanthropy  Increase the level of  Private foundation support  Private business  Leverage the travel industry  Emphasize longer term institutional  We cannot do much with short term “grant chasing” here  Progress in Physics takes a while

070810emf10 Suggestion  Emphasize the Interdisciplinary Aspects  Astronomy/ AstroPhysics  Information and Info Theory Aspects  Gravitation  Geometry  Multi-institutional - worldwide  Games are strong among youth and surprisingly the youthful old.  Models of Context  Emphasize the Interdisciplinary Aspects  Astronomy/ AstroPhysics  Information and Info Theory Aspects  Gravitation  Geometry  Multi-institutional - worldwide  Games are strong among youth and surprisingly the youthful old.  Models of Context

11 Thank you Ed Frymoyer