Nothing is too wonderful to be true

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:111073

Morrison, P

This time of ours is brimming with plausible and attractive fiction, special effects, dramatic advocacy replacing well-weighed evidence, beliefs held because they appeal. Here is a major public issue. If we do not find some way to improve the level of public discourse, democracy cannot for a long time endure. There has to be a typical suspension of final judgment, an appeal to weigh the evidence, to seek more, and to reflect. In that spirit the author discusses three topics which represent different styles of gaining knowledge, different processes for the pursuit of scientific research, yet all are part of science and of the teaching of science. We d ourselves a great disservice if we press the reform of science education, badly needed, solely as a task for our K-12 teachers. The universities also need to look at themselves. The teaching of non-science majors, lawyers, legislators, business people, etc., is quite poor and is one of the major areas of needed reform within the universities. Will these people try to build something of a new structure in the schools for something they disliked? Science education needs to be a positive experience for all students.

• Research Organization: Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 111073
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404192--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
CHILDREN
EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
LEARNING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
STANDARDS
TRAINING