Archived
E-mail Discussion List
|
|
Return to E-mail Discussion page Previous in threadNext in thread Hello everyone, Since this is my first posting, let me introduce myself: I am a biologist working for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. My work focuses on plant-microbe interactions that affect crop growth and development. Specifically, I am working towards developing new technologies to promote sustainable agriculture. Eric: re: I worry that much of science, as it is currently taught, is indeed remote and abstract. In high school I had to memorize all the bones and muscles in the body, as well as all the elements in the periodic table -- it struck me as rather unimportant. If one does not develop the specialized vocabulary of a field, how can one become conversant in the ideas that it presents to us. You certainly know what electrons, protons, and neutrons ARE, to a much greater extent than the sixth grader who has just been taught the definitions and shown the Bohr model of the atom. But I suspect that you started your journey towards understanding subatomic particles in the same place (perhaps earlier than sixth grade): accepting the "facts" as presented, first by memorizing them, then by making connections to other parts of your experience and understanding of the universe. In your remark above, it appears that you are frustrated by only seeing people being taught the vocabulary but not the meaning and implications of that vocabulary on their worldviews and/or political and economic choices. I would assert that one must go through that first exercise, and accept the fact that many do not move beyond it. I suspect that some of the lack of progress is due to a lack of understanding by science teachers (and their concominant sin of not applying appropriate teaching methods), but I suspect that the larger responsibility falls upon us scientists for not for actively convincing society of the importance and value of good scientific literacy and critical thinking. People can operate just fine in our society without knowing much about science. The fact that they could live better if they payed more attention to the subject and its methods is accepted by you and I but most remain unconvinced. Why? Dr. Brian McSpadden Gardener USDA-ARS Root Disease and Biological Control Unit Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164 (509) 335 1116 (509) 335 7674 FAX |
