Information Literacy in the Sciences UNL 206x

The terms that Robert M. Hazen uses to describe what scientific literacy is, has allowed me to recognize the true importance of literacy in the science aspects of our lives. He makes it clear that being literate in science doesn’t entitle a person to know large vocabulary terms, but instead it is to be able to read a science related article from a magazine or newspaper and fully understand the content. To me, this seems like a feasible and important task for people of society to achieve because Robert is correct in stating that science is everywhere around us. The fact that the average person more than likely doesn’t know basic science terms will continuously lower society’s standards of people literate in science matters; this in turn will allow key science issues to be pushed aside and will not be given the time or money necessary to fix the issue. It’s not as important to know the difference between RNA or DNA, but what Robert emphasizes is that education should encourage students to be able to grasp a concept and apply it to the world around them makes perfect sense. I agree that if we as citizens do not have a basic understanding of important science related topics, like global warming, less knowledgeable electorates will be put in office and this will negatively effect important issues in science. Personally I feel that science literacy must be given great enforcement in lower education institutes so that the future population will have the abilities to deal with the current science issues that effect every aspect of our lives and the world around us.

Science literacy is a very crucial skill for the normal person to have. Hazen definately has a biased point, but his argument shows it is not as extreme as some would take it. Advances in science in any age have affected history's development. Many wars,agricultural techniques, and medicinal practices have advanced because of scientists. But for the non-science person, it is important too.
Scientific discoveries have been integrated into our life styles. Our electronic devices, sanitation systems, and even the weather outside require some form of scientific understanding. Knowing the day to day phenomenon will more than add to a tea time conversation, but knowing several basics will help solve many problems. Even if we can not save the world from glaboal warming, understanding the theories behind it help us vote and run our political system to help solve it. Support for much scientific research is surprisingly low. Environmental research was not well supported until there was a larger "green" movement. But for that to happen, there had to be a lot of advertising and money going into that campaign. If the general public were more scientifically literate, support for scientific research that could potentially do a lot of good will more likely be passed.
Personally, I think more scientific literacy would help how we live. From electric technologies to environmental ones. How we live could change just from a couple discoveries or additions. Our life style has already changed so much from just what it was a few decades ago. We have to power to spread information all over the world. But if people can not understand the information, it is of little use. I think the average person should know what is in there food when they read the back of the lable. People should know what's happening to them when they are sick and how different medicines affect them. People should know the effects of polution. If people were more scientifically literate, they would understand that several of their actions that they think are trivial, actually have an important affect on their lives. Science gets you to think in a different view point from most other topics. Those different views could lead to a greater discovery.

Hazen makes three great points as to why science literacy is so important including civics, aesthetics and intellectual coherence. Whether we are aware of it or not, science literacy is part of our everyday lives. It’s involved in government, the changing of the seasons, evolution and much more. The ability to understand these types of changes is critical to human civilization for without it we would not have achieved so much and come thus far in development. Prior to reading this article, I was unaware of how science literacy has so greatly affected our lives. I truly believe that our planet needs scientifically literate citizens in order to evolve further, to understand things to a greater extent, to make new findings and to explain current as well as future phenomenon.

To be scientifically literate is a necessary skill that all people should possess if they desire to keep up in today’s fast paced world of information. In his article, Robert M. Hazen proves this point, saying that not everyone has to be able to understand every minute detail presented to them, but just being able to read a news article and understand the concept will suffice. Science is everywhere, so even people who don’t deal with it on a day to day basis still need to know what everyone else is talking about. For example, the weather is a part of everyday life, and everyone has some understanding of how it works, even if not everybody is a meteorologist. Although some things are more important than others, like knowing about the weather versus the difference between DNA and RNA, the ordinary person should have some idea of what scientific literacy is all about. How people live is determined by science. Being scientifically literate is very important for the future. If people are not educated in the sciences today, how will they be able to help solve the problems of tomorrow? Pushing the issue of science literacy in lower level education throughout upper level education will help create a better understanding community of people who will be able to create a better world to live in, through science.

With reading, "Why should you be Scientifically Literate," I now understand the importance of the concept. Author and scientist Robert Hazen makes great points defending just how important it is to be scientifically literate. Everyday our world is changing and advancing,yet with higher education most people cannot explain basic facts of science concerning weather. It is very important for a person to be literate in the sciences to go about our daily lives and make personal decisions. A person does not have to be an expert in the subject, just informed properly of the basics to make their own personal choices. I personally believe that the future of our country begins with the individual at small before the world can be affected at large. Knowing basic science facts and concepts could prepare an individual for whatever is to come.

In my opinion scientific literacy has importance, but I think that Robert Hazen makes it out to be more important than it is. I do agree that basic knowledge of science is important to people’s health, but college students forgetting the basic scientific knowledge that they learned in high school isn’t big news. The business world affects the daily lives of people just as much as science does but most college graduates wouldn’t understand the affects of articles in The Wall Street Journal. It is an individual’s responsibility to obtain basic knowledge of science along with a variety of other subjects that affect their daily activities. If an individual decides not to obtain such knowledge they forego their ability to be involved with decisions. In a society where everyone has equal rights it would be nice if everyone obtained basic knowledge in all fields, but it is impossible to force people to do so. In my opinion making students take more classes in science isn’t going to result in them not forgetting the information a few years later. I believe that the future of our country relies on the experts more than individuals. The experts are the ones that come up with innovative ideas, giving them the power to change the country and even the planet.

Robert Hazen argues the idea of the importance of scientific literacy and in doing so brought up numerous supporting ideas. I, not being involved in a mojor associated with science come to find that scientific literacy is an important concept in our society today. Hazen argues that scientific elements are in many aspects of our daily lives and that not having a slight understanding of what is going on around you in the world is a huge diservice to yourself. Many might say that it does not make a difference whether or not you are scientifically literate, however I find that notion irresponsible for the simple fact that not having any scientic literacy under your belt does not allow you to understand nor discuss many of the major events that we are exposed to today. As Hazen listed, the ozone decay, global warming, and medical advances all require some sense of scientific understanding and without it your are left in the dark. Although i do support the concept of scientifically literate citizens I do feel that the future of our nation and our planet does not rely on whether or not we are scientifically literate. I feel this way because a scientifically literate citizen is not going to solve any of the major porblems we are faced with today. I think that it is just useful for the individual to understand the science that revolves around us everyday and in being able to converse socially regarding those sciences

1 Is science literacy as important as Robert Hazen implies? Explain.
According to the article “As a consumer, as a business professional, and as a citizen, you will have to form opinions about these and other science-based issues if you are to participate fully in modern society. More and more, scientific and technological issues dominate national discourse, from environmental debates on ozone depletion and acid rain, to economic threats from climate change and invasive species. Understanding these debates has become as basic as reading.” science literacy is very important for people. No matter if the want or not, they will use science literacy in they are life all the time. Indeed, Robert Hazen thinks that it is very important.

2. What difference does it make whether the ordinary person understands the change of the seasons or the difference between DNA and RNA or, for that matter, any major scientific idea behind the ordinary day-to-day phenomena of our lives?
According to the article “The education of professional scientists is often just as narrowly focused as the education of any other group of professionals, so scientists are just as likely to be ignorant of scientific matters outside their own specialty as anyone else.” The understanding of basic staff like seasons or the difference between DNA and RNA is not dramatically important. People will understand this in details if they are actually study this for some times.

3. Do you personally believe that the future of our country and, to a larger extent, our planet depends on scientifically literate citizens? Explain. I personally believe that scientifically literate is very important, we will use this in our every day life in school, college, job and even when shopping in the mall. We should educate our self all the time, every day of our life.

Robert Hazen's article makes an important point which I agree with, which is that scientific literacy should be universal. I think that people should be aware of what is going on in the world around them, especially when it comes to science. Science and technology are advancing at such a rate that many problems and troubles we have now and have had are finding solutions. An ordinary person should be concerned with science because it affect their everyday lives. A person with a incurable disease can now be treated, or something little like that persons T.V. is now twice as big for half the price. The more we know about our changing world scientifically the better we can discuss and decide what is important to us and what we should develop as the world advances. I do believe everyone should be scientifically literate, but as long as we have some people who are paying attention well be in good shape.

Just as Robert Hazen implies in his work science literacy is extremely significant. It according to the article allows us to have a better connection with current issues facing us in the world we live in, and broadens our knowledge. His reasoning behind the importance of an ordinary person being literate in science has to do with three main areas. He says that the welfare of the nation will be stronger, it helps us as humans have a greater appreciation for things we do daily and may take for granted, and the third is the fact that science today has such an influential role in our lives. He realizes that it may be difficult to be completely literate in the science, but wants to stress the importance of being able to acquire information and apply it. I think that it is important for our country and the world to become more science literate. It would only help people appreciate the world around us and understand how and why things work the way they do. Especially with the gains in technology, there is much information to be found and understood so science literacy is very important.

Science literacy is as important, if not more so, as Robert Hazen implies because the tone, attitude, and directional momentum of our society as a whole is determined by popular beliefs. The level of scientific literacy or lack there of, will determine popular beliefs and therefore popular actions. In essence, popular knowledge and attitudes shapes the direction of a people. And in our technologically and scientifically advancing society, how, and to what end, we use science and technology as determined by our understanding and appreciation of the sciences. Science literacy is especially important today because we, as the force controlling the direction of our culture, need to understand our connection to and effects on the larger world ecosystem if we are to survive as a species in its changing environments.

Without a doubt, scientific literacy in the general populace is every bit as important as Mr. Hazen proposes. Without a basic understanding of the underlying principles of science, the impact of new discoveries in today’s society is severely muted, especially in an age where so much financial backing and support of science is dependant on the interests and understanding of non-scientists. How many brilliant and potentially useful scientific discoveries have been shelved in the present struggling economy, while more economically viable research continues since it is more easily “sold” to the public?
As to its importance in the every day life of the general public, such a connection to scientific understanding is completely subjective. There is no question that one can survive, and even thrive, with absolutely no understanding of even the most basic scientific concepts. This individual however, would be at the mercy of those who dictate policy that directly impacts upon the lives of the public, whatever their motives may be. In this case ignorance really is bliss.
I was also intrigued by Mr. Hazen’s argument for the understanding of science on the basis of aesthetics, though I feel its relevance is understated. This is an important, but sadly often overlooked motivation for the understanding of science. Unlike the civics argument, promoting understanding of science on the basis of aesthetics is not something that can be taught with ease. In my personal experience, people who take such aesthetic pleasure in science were predisposed towards it in the first place. While it may be awoken in a younger person who has never been exposed to science before, engendering this in a person with no personal interest does not seem realistic, and no amount of forced exposure to science can be expected to change that. Since most people forget skills and knowledge learned in school that do not directly apply to their life after college, it is to be expected that eventually only people with a personal interest in the aesthetic aspects of science or a professional understanding of certain scientific disciplines will promote an ongoing understanding of those principles. This is even more apparent in our present climate of freely and quickly available information, where the layperson can “google” quick, (if dubious), answers in a matter of seconds from almost anywhere in the world. If anything, I expect we will see a widening of the divide between the science-literate and the non, much to the detriment of our society as a whole.

Sientific Literacy is indeed as important as Mr. Hazen states. A person that is scientfically literate "possesses facts" that are vital to everyday life, let alone science. The opinions of individuals are greatly influenced by scientific literacy. Information found in scientific lieracy can proide essential facts or ideas that tie into the lives of many indviduals. There is always new information being discovered and new ideas to be pondered. Without scientfic literacy, our society would be at a disadvantage and less informed.

Scientific Literacy is absolutely as important at Robert Hazen implies. According to Hazen, Science Literacy implies using science, not actually doing science. This means that people do not have to be scientists to understand and use Science Literacy, and therefore there is no reason why everyone cannot be Scientifically Literate. Scientific Literate is shown to be extremely important under three different arguments; civics, aesthetics, and intellectual coherence. According to the civics argument, “The general welfare of a nation is stronger with a citizenry that is scientifically informed.” According to the aesthetics argument, “Understanding science enriches our appreciation of everyday activities.” Finally, according to the intellectual coherence argument, “The intellectual climate of our era is influenced by our understanding of science.” If the entire American Public, or even the majority, was Scientific Literate they would have a much better understanding of many public issues. Not every American understands the reasons behind the change of the seasons, the difference between DNA and RNA, or other major scientific ideas of this generation. This is a serious problem because we live in a democracy where we elect public officials based on their positions on issues which require Scientific Literacy. If the average person does not understand the reasons why the seasons change, chances are they will not have an educated opinion when it comes to more complicated issues such as global warming, stem cell research, abortion, etc. These decisions are more likely to be based on ignorance and bias rather that an informed decision as a result of Scientific Literacy. I absolutely believe that the future of our country is in jeopardy, for a number of reasons, and one main reason is the lack of Scientific Literacy. Expanding countries such as China and India produce highly educated students that will seriously jeopardize lazy American students’ future jobs. The top 10% of their student population is equal to America’s entire student population. With the severely low number of Scientifically Literate American citizens, our country is in for a rude awakening down the line. Something needs to be done now to wake people up from this comatose state, and show them what will happen if we do not sharpen our knowledge skills.

Scientific literacy revolves around a diverse range of subject matters that are rapidly changing from day to day. As Hazen argues in his article, being scientifically literate is essential if you want to understand current scientific issues, and then be able to make your own conclusions. Therefore, those who are uninformed or lack knowledge in the area of science will not be fully participating in societal discourse. Yet there is also the problem of professional scientists who only concentrate on specific fields of science, which leaves them with a limited extent of literacy. In both cases, Hazen emphasizes the importance of scientific literacy as it relates to the recent technology crazy. I think a basic understanding of science is undoubtedly necessary for any career today as science and technology continue to transform and expand the job market.

Hazen believes that Science literacy is the art of using science, not doing it. You do not need a deep understanding of science to be science literate. Hazen implies that science literacy is important because it helps us understand the issues affecting the world today, such as acid rain, global warming and the human genome project. He states that this understanding is important because it helps us to make informed choices and appreciate the natural laws of science that govern our lives.

It is crucial for us to understand major scientific phenomena because they make up the core structure of our lives. For example, if someone didn’t understand gravity they may jump off a cliff without realizing the consequences. This is a very extreme case but it gives a rough idea of the extent to which science literacy is important. Also, in today’s society the government and public policy is becoming very involved in science (for example, stem cell research) so for us to be informed members of society we must also be science literate.

I believe that the future of the planet depends on science literate citizens. The president of the United States, Barack Obama, has already endeavored to make us understand the importance of stem cell research. From this we can cure hereditary diseases that were thought to be a lost cause before. With science reaching into every facet of the government, even if we like it or not, it is a great asset if one is scientifically literate.