Why science? / James Trefil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Trefil, James, 1938-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Study and teaching.

Science.

Physical Description:

xii, 208 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Teachers College Press ; Arlington, VA : NSTA Press, [2008]

Summary:

With conviction and clarity, prize-winning scientist and bestselling author James Trefil explains why every U.S. citizen needs to be scientifically literate. As Trefil sees it, citizens simply cannot participate fully in the democratic process if they dont understand fundamental scientific concepts. And he describes exactly what these principles are, from understanding natural selection to grasping Maxwells Equations governing electricity and magnetism; from recognizing that the surface of the earth is constantly in flux to grasping the basic concepts of physics and chemistry. With an appreciation of our national state of ignorance on scientific matters, he not only explains these concepts but also shows why they are worth knowing.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Science: A World Understood 1

Chapter 2 Scientific Literacy: What Is It? 20

Chapter 3 Scientific Literacy: The Argument from Civics 34

Chapter 4 Scientific Literacy: The Argument from Culture 46

Chapter 5 Scientific Literacy: The Argument from Aesthetics 61

Chapter 6 The State of Scientific Literacy 79

Chapter 7 The Research Pipeline 93

Chapter 8 The Historical Struggle with Science Education 114

Chapter 9 Apportioning the Blame: How We Got to Where We Are 130

Chapter 10 The Goals of Science Education 148

Chapter 11 Training for Galileo in the World of Craig Venter 161

Chapter 12 The Great Ideas Approach to Scientific Literacy 176.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-201) and index.

ISBN:

9780807748305

0807748307

9780807748312

0807748315

OCLC:

123955201