CaSP is initiating Monthly Topics, where each month we will focus on a topic related to science policy. Each week we will explore a different issue surrounding the month’s topic, with a blog post, and links to relevant articles exploring the topic in more depth.
For the first month, we will be focusing on the question “Who needs science literacy and why?” Naturally, as scientists, this is a topic near and dear to our hearts. But our love of science is not the only reason, nor the main reason, that science is important. In the information age that we live in, science has come to affect our lives to a greater extent than anytime in the past, and it seems likely that this trend will continue. For the past few years, the federal government has focused on increasing training in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and has voiced concern that the US may not keep up with the rest of the world in STEM education. But do we really have a shortage of scientifically educated people? Is STEM education worthy of focus? And do only scientists need this education, or is it important for non-scientists to have some scientific training also? This month we will be posting articles that address the importance of science literacy on our Twitter and Facebook feeds. Also look for weekly reflections here on our blog as we explore this issue.