Scientific Illiterates

Recent data reported in the New York Times shows that only a small percent of Americans understand what molecules are. Only a third could not identify DNA as the central molecule that determines heredity. Only 10% know what radiation is, and 20% of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth. We should also not forget those flatlanders!

As a chemical educator this does not surprise me in the least. Science education in American primary and secondary schools is abysmal, and it does not get much better at many colleges and universities. Partly this is due to the fact that many science teachers often do not have degrees in science. For example, about half of the high school chemistry teachers in the US do not have a degree in chemistry. Of teachers in this group, many are physical education teachers because they have a little more science than most other teachers. Of course, they have nothing to teach because many of the physical education classes are now electives. American students can now get an early start on the road to obesity and diabetes when they are young due to inactivity. I know when I was in school we all took physical education three to five times a week! That is another problem for me to discuss.

If our citizens do now know about molecules, how can they know about the atoms that bond to produce molecules? It gets worse. How can they know about the nucleus in the center of atoms or the electrons in organized shells outside the nucleus? How can they know of the quarks that make up the proton, neutrons, and electrons? I will not bore you by continuing and showing how these small particles are held together with the fundamental forces of nature.

How can Americans understand the issues of nuclear power? Mr. Bush cannot even correctly pronounce the word “nuclear!” The scientific knowledge concerning radiation and and nuclear energy is beyond most Americans. How can they evaluate the pros and cons of nuclear power?

How can Americans understand the issues surrounding global warming? Mr. Bush and his gang deny the scientific data that show the planet is warming just like his ideas about intelligent design (psuedoscience) and how it should be taught along side natural selection and evolution (science). I am not a meteorologist but the extra warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico may have increased Katrina from a category I or II hurricane to a category IV or V hurricane. Do Americans know that the North Pole is now an ocean—no ice? What happened to the snows of Kilimanjaro? Gone!

How can Americans understand stem cells and their vast potential to ease human suffering? A person who does not know about atoms and molecules has no way of understanding the complex molecules in living things. Do Americans know that stem cells are not cells? They are the precursors to cells.

How can Americans understand that our earth is finite? Is there an infinite supply of crude oil for thousands of generations to come? Is it okay for Americans, who represent about 7% of the human population, to use 20-30% of all resources from earth including crude oil? Do Americans have any concerns for their children and their grandchildren? Will crude oil be available for them? I think Americans just do not give a damn! Most believe that scientists will rescue them from their problems.

So how then can Americans understand the vastness of our universe, which may not be the only one? We live on a small planet that is part of an average solar system in the outer spiral arm of a non-descript galaxy called the Milky Way. The Milky Way has about 100 billion stars, many of which have solar systems. How many galaxies are in the universe? You guessed it. A good estimate is 100 billion galaxies. Even if you know little about the world, the likelihood that no other life exists in our universe is infinitesimal!

How can Americans understand the big bang and what came before? I will not even comment. I will leave that for another time. For most Americans they can sit in their easy chairs and say “I do not believe it!” This is the end of the story for them. Until we can educate Americans to better understand science and history without the intrusion of mythology, we will continue to decline until we reach third-world status.