BCCE, Purdue Univ. 2006 Public Understanding of Science: Past, Present & Future What Can We Do As Chemists and Educators? Penny J. Gilmer Florida State

BCCE, Purdue Univ. 2006

Public Understanding of Science:Past, Present & Future

What Can We Do As Chemists and Educators?

Penny J. Gilmer Florida State University


Organization of talk

Public Understanding of Science1. 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?


In the past… NSF surveys of the public’s understanding of science and

technology using true/false questions (2004 or most recent)

604020

% 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


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)

40 60 8020

S. KoreaChina

S. KoreaChina

US

Japan


Scientific terms and concepts (NSF)

% responses correct

40 60

Antibiotics kill viruses as well

as bacteria (False)

Electrons are smaller than

atoms (True)

20 80

Less than 50% of all countries tested knew electrons are smaller than atoms

US

Russia

KoreaChina

Europe

US


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)

40 6020

% correct response

US ties for lowest % correct responses to question on evolution of animals.

Japan

Russia

US

S. Korea

EuropeRussia


Two questions on scientific terms and concepts (with word answers, NSF, 2001)

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


Also weak understanding of scientific process (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


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)


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.


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


Present:

Rainer Glaser has Chemistry Is in the News Web site

Site includes Critical thinking Collaboration Peer review Technology

I use it successfully in biochemistry classrooms

http://ciitn.missouri.edu/


Present:

Sir Harold Kroto’s Vega Science Trust Web site

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 C60 lectures

http://www.vega.org.uk/


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


Future:

1. Learn cognitive theories of how people learn and apply with your own students

a. K-12b. Undergraduatec. 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 [email protected]


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

http://tip.psychology.org/


Cultural-Historical Activity Theory

Rules or Schema

s

Subjects

Communities

Tools

Objects

Division of Labor

Outcomes


Two interacting activity systems

http://www.edu.helsinki.fi/activity/pages/chatanddwr/chat/


Sewell’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


Later this week:

Here at BCCE attend sessions on theoretical frameworks (part of Research in Chemical Education)• Wed. afternoon• Thurs. morning

Documents

BCCE, Purdue Univ. 2006 Public Understanding of Science: Past, Present & Future What Can We Do As Chemists and Educators? Penny J. Gilmer Florida State