SAB NewsImproving Scientific LiteracyPosted 2/28/2005 According to a poll conducted by The Science Advisory Board, scientists believe that governments can best improve the scientific literacy of their citizens by “teaching teachers to teach.” Sixty percent of those surveyed believe that countries will get the most return on their education tax dollars by supporting teacher-training programs. Teacher-training programs are instrumental in helping bring advanced technology into the classroom. They assist educators in combining rigorous academic content with scientifically based research in their curricula. “Preparing children for tomorrow depends upon a nation’s willingness to invest--over the long term--in the training and tools teachers need to keep abreast with the leading technologies of today,” observes Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director, The Science Advisory Board. While the clear emphasis was on supporting educators, 24% of respondents think that governments have a primary responsibility to supply scientific educational materials to children. Half of that percentage purport that governments should instead focus on fostering student innovation through research competition. Only 4% of those surveyed feel that governments should provide laboratory equipment to the classroom. Regardless of the mechanism, scientists believe that the public would benefit by developing a broader appreciation of science and the research enterprise. This knowledge should include an understanding of the following fundamentals:
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