What do we have to be jolly about in 2009 when so much of the news we hear is bad? A surprising “something” has happened: You can almost feel the public awareness of and interest in science. And the timing couldn’t be better, since 2009 is the Year of Science. Many people—including students—now consider science a solution to issues such as global climate change, species restoration, and environmental degradation, as well as an avenue to new insights about the world.
The public’s perception of science varies, of course, but more people are aware of and acknowledging the science surrounding us. The Seed State of Science 2008 survey, conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation, found 77% of scientists stated technology is improving the way science is communicated to the public.
Let’s examine the term “green,” for example. The word most commonly used as a color now represents a concept offering solutions to our future energy needs. Green is applied to many aspects of alternative source energy, such as wind, tidal, geothermal, and biofuels. Great opportunities abound for helping the public and our students learn much about chemistry. We hear about green cars, cleaners, paper, and business practices, for example. Other than these things being a part of the environmental solution, we can also be jolly because students and the public are viewing science as something they can use to help them.
What about “red”? Instead of symbolizing anger or heat, it has come to represent the Holy Grail of detailed extraterrestrial planetary data for planetary and Earth scientists. The NASA Mars rover Spirit and its companion Opportunity are still collecting data from and photographing the Red Planet. We now know there was—and is—water on Mars. We can see geomorphic records of water action in layered rocks, water tributary trails, and canyons similar to those on Earth. Ice has been found, and the data keeps coming from other discoveries. You can view some of the data and photos at www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/index.html. These rovers on the Red Planet have demonstrated we still have much to learn.
A phenomenon originating in the United Kingdom and spreading to the United States is the Café Scientifique, or Science Café, which brings scientists and the public together in informal settings. Thanks to some teachers and the Coalition for the Public Understanding in Science, the popularity of these “cafés” seems to be growing. Over the last two years, Science Day has been held in New York City, and other events are scheduled for various cities this year. You can learn more about activities planned for your area at www.yearofscience2009.org.
The number of science-oriented television and radio programs and podcasts has risen over the last few years, as evidenced by the popularity of the MythBusters, Science Fridays, and the Naked Scientists series, just to name a few. Their goal is not necessarily popularizing science, but acknowledging science as a part of our culture we should all embrace.
We have many miles to go before the public fully understands or appreciates the role of science, but as science educators, we can be delighted so many people are thinking about and discussing science. What I believe is different now is the general public and the science community appreciate the practical side of science and its effects on daily life and our pocketbooks. Science is all around us. For those of us who know a little or maybe a lot of science, watching a sunset at the end of the day is not reduced to an analysis of light spectrums and atmospheric particles: Like everyone else, we see the beauty and wonder of a sunset. However, we also can go further, pondering the waves, refraction, and particles if we so choose, enhancing the total experience. Knowing science enriches our view of the world, and we can help our students and others have this same experience.
Albert Einstein once said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science.” As science educators, we now have a rare opportunity to show an interested public how science explores what is not understood and how it impacts all of our lives.