How do public science events fit into the How do public science events fit into the bigger picture?bigger picture?

February 17, 2011

Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Editor-in-Chief, Science magazineUS Science Envoy (Indonesia & Pakistan)

My education in Washington, DCMy education in Washington, DC1993 to 20051993 to 2005

SCIENCE FOR POLICYMAKING SCIENCE FOR POLICYMAKING

How the Academies work to promote the How the Academies work to promote the use of science for wise decision makinguse of science for wise decision making

I will give you three examples I will give you three examples

Conclusion:Conclusion:

No evidence that No evidence that these fields are these fields are dangerous dangerous

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Good evidence Good evidence that very low that very low levels of arsenic levels of arsenic are dangerousare dangerous

Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for--and in many activities, and poses significant risks for--and in many cases is already affecting--a broad range of human and cases is already affecting--a broad range of human and natural systems. natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations.

From the National Academies, 2010

Why scientific judgments like these Why scientific judgments like these are crucial for policymakersare crucial for policymakers

• Science has allowed humans to gain a deep Science has allowed humans to gain a deep understanding of the natural world.understanding of the natural world.

• In many cases, we can therefore predict the In many cases, we can therefore predict the effects of current actions on the future.effects of current actions on the future.

IndependentIndependent policy advice from the policy advice from the National AcademiesNational Academies

• More than 200 reports a year, presenting More than 200 reports a year, presenting the the scientific consensus scientific consensus on a policy-relevant on a policy-relevant question.question.

85 percent requested by the US government85 percent requested by the US government

• Full text released to the press, and to the Full text released to the press, and to the public on our Website, when report is delivered public on our Website, when report is delivered to governmentto government

www.NAP.eduwww.NAP.eduFull text of more than 4000 books now on-line,

accessible through powerful search engine.

SCIENCE IN EDUCATION SCIENCE IN EDUCATION

Three ambitious goals

Through science education for all:

1. Enable all children to acquire the problem-solving, thinking, and communication skills of scientists – so that they can be productive and competitive in the new world economy.

2. Help the world generate new scientific knowledge and technology by casting the widest possible net for talent.

3. Generate a “scientific temper” for each nation, with scientifically trained people in many professions, ensuring the rationality and the tolerance essential for a democratic society.

To accomplish these goals, we To accomplish these goals, we must redefine what we mean by must redefine what we mean by

the term “science educationthe term “science education”

18,000 reviewers18,000 reviewers

250 pages250 pages

Requested by the 50 state governors, this is what I spent half my time on at the US National Academies, from 1993-1995

An emphasis on An emphasis on active inquiryactive inquiry

What science should look like in school

What 5 year olds can do What 5 year olds can do

1) Put on clean white socks and walk around school yard.

2) In class, collect all black specks stuck to socks and try to classify them: which are seeds and which are dirt?

3) Start by examining each speck with a 3 dollar, plastic “microscope”.

4) End by planting both those specks believed to be dirt and those believed to be seeds, thereby testing their own idea that the regularly shaped ones are seeds.

The VisionThe VisionImagine an education that includes solving hundreds of

challenges over the course of the 13 years of schooling that lead to high school graduation – challenges that increase in difficulty as the children age. Outstanding curricula of this type already exist, having been developed and refined in the United States for 50 years.

I believe that children who are prepared for life in this way would be great problem solvers in the workplace, with the abilities and the can-do attitude that are needed to be competitive in the global economy.

Even more important, they will also be more Even more important, they will also be more rational human beings – people who are able to rational human beings – people who are able to make wise judgments for their family, their make wise judgments for their family, their community, and their nation.community, and their nation.

A lesson from the climate debatesA lesson from the climate debates

Most Americans have never met a scientist, and despite having been “taught science” at school, most have no real idea of how a scientific consensus is reached through continuous open debate and experiment.

Responsible challenges to a consensus help science advance. Thus, adults should expect to find some scientists who disagree with the scientific consensus on an issue.

But they should appreciate why a strong scientific consensus, such as that about climate change, must form the basis for making wise personal and community decisions, representing by far the best bet for predicting the future consequences of present actions.

Urgently needed: broader goals for all introductory Urgently needed: broader goals for all introductory college science coursescollege science courses

Every adult should have a base of scientific understanding about how the world works. But understanding the process through which scientific knowledge develops is equally critical.

By the end of any introductory college science class—which can be an adult’s final exposure to science—a student should have a realistic understanding of the nature of science.

My most important take-home lesson My most important take-home lesson from 12 years in Washingtonfrom 12 years in Washington

Science is much more important than Science is much more important than most scientists think!most scientists think!

More specifically:More specifically:

It is critically important that science, and scientists, achieve a much higher degree of influence throughout both their nations and the world.

• This is important for the success of each nation.

• It is also important for building a better world.

““The society of scientists is simple because it has a The society of scientists is simple because it has a directing purpose: to explore the truth. Nevertheless, directing purpose: to explore the truth. Nevertheless, it has to solve the problem of every society, which is it has to solve the problem of every society, which is to find a compromise between the individual and the to find a compromise between the individual and the group. It must encourage the single scientist to be group. It must encourage the single scientist to be independent, and the body of scientists to be tolerant. independent, and the body of scientists to be tolerant. From these basic conditions, which form the prime From these basic conditions, which form the prime values, there follows step by step a range of values: values, there follows step by step a range of values: dissent, freedom of thought and speech, justice, dissent, freedom of thought and speech, justice, honor, human dignity and self respect. honor, human dignity and self respect.   

Science has humanized our values. Men have Science has humanized our values. Men have asked for freedom, justice and respect precisely as asked for freedom, justice and respect precisely as the scientific spirit has spread among them.”the scientific spirit has spread among them.” Jacob Bronowski, Science and Human Values, 1956Jacob Bronowski, Science and Human Values, 1956

Important to rememberImportant to remember