Bob CollinsThe Pew Research Center is out with a fascinating report today showing the gap in what scientists say and what the public believes.
It’s not just climate change that serves as an example of how quickly many Americans dismiss scientific reports; it’s virtually every issue involving science.
Curiously, the survey reveals that science and scientists are held in high esteem. But when it comes to believability, not so much.
Why? Seventy-five percent of scientists blame the lack of science in K-12, as schools concentrate on reading and math.
It’s a lament, of course, with real consequences. We might dismiss the need for science on the basis that many kids won’t become scientists. But, in fact, we need science so that we can grow up to understand the complex threats that face us.
