216 Million Americans Are Scientifically Illiterate (Part I)

Read this Bog's Point of View :
www.technologyreview.com...

The good news: America's science literacy rate is up from a pathetic 10 percent in 1988. The bad news: it's still only 28 percent.

As Carl Sagan eloquently wrote in The Demon-Haunted World, ignorance reigns in our society at a moment when science is on the cusp of doing amazing and wonderful things, but also dangerous things. Ignorance, said Sagan, is not an option.

and this is some feedback from the Article:

hile I am in agreement with the authors expressed disappointment in the publics ignorance of science and the basic understanding needed to maintain the underpinnings of society, the author himself demonstrates a lack of understanding of the scientific method and the skepticism which should be dominant in a scientific mind. He brings up evolution, global warming, and stem cell research as items the public just dose not understand. Each of these subjects have become so laden with politics and faith that the debate has left the scientific realm. Evolution is a good working hypothesis explaining much observed behavior. It is pushed as dogma which is supposed to be taken on faith. Any questioning of the “Facts” places a person firmly in the camp of the loons. In my opinion, what is needed is a public trained to reason and be aware of the difference between fact, theory, and faith. Faith and feelings should be reserved for dealing with religion and interpersonal relationships, never debate over science or public policy.

“Ignorance feeds on ignorance.” – Carl Sagan

I've been noticing this alot too. People love to form their own theories about the world without grasping basic science. It's frustrating to see but it goes on a great deal, including here.

Thanks for the link.

Define a scientifically illiterate American.

One that doesn't comprehend what DNA actually is.

One that doesn't understand the behavior of the atom.

One that beleives the World Trade Center fell by plane crash and jet fuel

Ok, kidding on that last one

Sometimes wish I was American - then I could use it as an excuse!!

Can't talk, i'm Brit.

Dont know what this reply is about, but I will fly the flag (below)

Glory!

When the scientists take over and systematically eradicate the unknowing, then they'll will wish they had kept up with science...but then it's too late.

Too many complacent luddites waiting to be taken to the cleaners and you can bet someone will try...knowledge is power.

well, how many americans perform complex physics experiments in their daily lives ?

this is just a reflection of specialization in a society.

the average american leaves it up to the scientists to figure out, you know, science.

is it reasonable to assume a high degree of profficiency in all aspects of education in any society ?

art, music, literature, geology, physics, chemistry, math, foreign languages, biology, ecology, economics, history, american history, european history, etc etc etc


its just a reflection of specialization

Originally posted by Regenmacher
When the scientists take over and systematically eradicate the unknowing, then they'll will wish they had kept up with science...but then it's too late.

Too many complacent luddites waiting to be taken to the cleaners and you can bet someone will try...knowledge is power.

Knowledge IS NOT power! knowing what to do with knowledge is power...

"knowing what to do" = taking action on aquired knowledge...



[edit on 2/22/2007 by a1ex]

YA......

Im sure the rest of the world are just little genius's waiting to discover
some amazing break through in fusion reactors....

Are you serious ?

The average person has no use for science and what it is.

It dosnt mean much if you are current with the latest THEORIES and text books.

Originally posted by SteveR
One that doesn't comprehend what DNA actually is.

One that doesn't understand the behavior of the atom.

One that beleives the World Trade Center fell by plane crash and jet fuel

Ok, kidding on that last one

How bout one that doesn't understand why the tertiary carbon on a t-butyl chain cannot undergo suffecient nucleophilic substitution with a halogen?

If you take the population of the United States to be 300 million, and estimate the percent being white at .77 and the percent of that being male .50, and the percent of that being over the age of 18 to be .50, it comes out to about 58 million Americans.

300-58=242
242-216=26
26+58=84

That means that out of a popultion of 300 million, 84 million are white males that are scientifically literate.

Originally posted by a1ex
Knowledge IS NOT power! knowing what to do with knowledge is power...

Few will pursue scientific knowledge just for the hell of it.
Thus the biggest demographic is and facing extinction:


Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
~ Dean Vernon Wormer


Why Should You Be Scientifically Literate?

Few will pursue scientific knowledge just for the hell of it.
Thus the biggest demographic is and facing extinction:

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
~ Dean Vernon Wormer

Why Should You Be Scientifically Literate?

- Thanks for the link interesting read.

from your link:

The number of Americans who are scientifically literate by the standards of these studies is distressingly low. The numbers, then, tell the same story as the anecdotes. Americans at all academic levels have not been given the basic background they may need to cope with the life they will have to lead in the twenty-first century.

One thing I wish they would stress since an early age in education is
money!

Teach young kids the horrible consequences when you get a credit card
at 25% interest

[edit on 2/23/2007 by a1ex]

Thats what you get when education is centralized. Im surprised as many of them are as literate as they are. Our graduation (high school) rate is just slightly higher than Mexicos.

Can you all say; "Welcome to McDonalds?"
Good, you graduate. Now get out of here.

Originally posted by syrinx high priest

the average american leaves it up to the scientists to figure out, you know, science.

And then they refuse to accept what the scientists tell them, claiming it's all a conspiracy

The church banned science in the dark ages, people like Gallileo were persecuted, and the church has once again banned science in America. Humans were created by intelligent design just like how the Sun revolves around the Earth. The christian leaders in America want the population to be a bunch of fools so that they can be easily maipulated. George Bush is a puppet of the religous conservatives that's why he's anti-science, he's proven this by supporting ID and opposing stemcell research. Imagine a future where science enables us to fix all our problems, where will that put christianity? Of course the common person will forget about it, just like we stopped worshipping the god of thunder.

You DONT worship the god of thunder?! Blasphemy!

Anyhow, I do believe thats what the original scientist in the post was attempting to get at is that Christianity is closing science down in the education sectors, causing the students to become ignorant to science.

However, as the second scientist pointed out, Scientists ARE NOT allowed to have a biased oppinion. If you have a biased oppinion on what you mention, you are not allowed to state that you are a scientist, as, at that time, you are a theorist at best.

I never claim to be a scientist. I'm an engineer. Big difference. So don't bother trying to fire back at me saying that I'm biased... damn right I'm biased, and so is most of the world of engineering.

But scientists are a different breed. You pretty much have to erase any trace of oppinion when you quote yourself as a scientist. Those are the true ignorance deniers.

I will be totally off the mark here but I can see here problem for American economy. Europa is building up their knowledge based economy that seems to competite with new emerging powers such as China and India prety well while USA seems to have problem keeping its position. And this new generation economy need great level of hard sciences from the beginning of basic school.
USA is also importing "brains" (IT technicians, mathematists and physics) from asian countries.

Today's biggest scientific projects are also situated in Europa. See CERN and ITER projects.

Originally posted by R3KR
Im sure the rest of the world are just little genius's waiting to discover
some amazing break through in fusion reactors....

Are you serious ?

No one said anything of the sort. And if you read the article, it said that Japan and Europe are slightly lower than the US. I think just having a good understanding of the basic fundamentals of science would be enough.

The average person has no use for science and what it is.

I disagree and doesn't that promote ignorance? I think the average person could benefit from having a better understanding of science. So that when big, new advancements come along. The average person won't be left in the dark as to how these advancements will affect them or become fearful of these advancements because they don't understand them at all.

Especially in this day and age where technology is changing much more rapidly then it was, say, 100 years ago. Science is all around us in everything we use. That may sound kind of cliché, but it's true.

Originally posted by Essan high priest

Originally posted by syrinx high priest

the average american leaves it up to the scientists to figure out, you know, science.

And then they refuse to accept what the scientists tell them, claiming it's all a conspiracy

It's sad, but it seems to be true in some cases.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
Thats what you get when education is centralized. Im surprised as many of them are as literate as they are. Our graduation (high school) rate is just slightly higher than Mexicos.

Can you all say; "Welcome to McDonalds?"
Good, you graduate. Now get out of here.

You are so right . I don't like government schools and I think the government holds back society from learning. Why would the government want us to be smarter than them? There needs to be competition in the schools. I the school isn't good enough for your kid then you take them somewhere else and while you're walking out that school so is that big dollar sign on your kids back. This is the science & technology age. It's getting closer and closer to space travel. People need to know science, technology, computing etc. Religion needs to stay away from science.