"Changing our tune"
I suspect that quite a few students choose A level physics, and/or A level
further maths, because of the kudos of studying a hard subject. I suspect
that the decline in numbers taking these subjects is mostly the academically
weaker. Maybe physics will end up like classics? I may even return to
teaching!
Dr R Marshall
Rosemead Mews
9 The Village
Keele
Newcastle-u-Lyme
Staffs ST5 5AD
Outgoing mail is scanned by Norton Antivirus
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on the public understanding of science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of pspgln
Sent: 21 May 2002 14:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Blair condemns protesters who thwart science
I feel that the more people who stand up and defend Science, the more
difficult our position becomes. Science along with the Church of England
and
"The Family" seems now to be on the side of the angels. How unfortunate
since
everyone knows that the devil has the best tunes. No wonder science isn't
popular. In Darwin's day science was often in direct opposition to the
Church
of England and people who knew about science considered themselves to be
really cool.
How about changing our tune entirely? Instead of the happy clappy ("science
is fun and easy") approach, why not explain that science is very difficult
and
only people who work very hard at it and are rather clever can understand
it.
Politicians, for example, don't make the effort and get it wrong a lot of
the
time. Nevertheless, working at understanding science is well worth the
effort. It may not make you rich, but it is worth the effort. We can't
explain why ... but it is.
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