The State Of Modern Science: A Call To Arms For Students

The scientific community is under unprecedented scrutiny in the age of climate change denial and even evolution denial. I feel that we are slow to react to this interest and as a result we have failed to capitalise on it. Scientists today suffer from ivory tower syndrome and the efforts of Brian Cox and others seem to make little impact on the general perception of science.

I am a biologist studying factors that influence human and animal behaviour. You might think that the human connection would make people interested in this kind of work but outside of scientific circles, most people don't know that my field is being studied. It amazes many when they find out that science is extremely valuable to the economy. The importance of the public understanding of science is greatly underestimated. Even if you don't do a science degree, science is still important. A little knowledge of Biology will help you make decisions about your diet, exercise and healthcare options. A little maths or knowledge of technology is very valuable in later life with finance. Perhaps most importantly, a general understanding of science allows you to identify the nonsense. Science teaches critical thinking, the single most important skill a modern human can have. This skill allows us to evaluate the arguments over climate change, evolution and aliens.

The general public is smarter than TV would have us believe. Recently, Brian Cox gave a lecture on the BBC about quantum physics. This program presented the mysterious world of quantum mechanics in an easy to follow format without too much "dumbing down" which is a refreshing change in science communication. Brian Cox is following the example of Carl Sagan, possibly the greatest science communicator in recent history. Sagan's masterpiece, "Cosmos" presented the story of science to a wide audience and remains one of the most watched science shows worldwide. All the great communicators have one thing in common. They understand that it is the wonder of science that needs to be used to interest people. Science is a truly wonderful tool. From it we know things about the universe and ourselves that defy our wildest imaginations. Unlike any other species, we can learn in detail from people we have never met and it is this that science is based upon. We should not be hoarding knowledge but diffusing it.

I call all interested people to learn about science and science students to teach science to others. Start with something that interests you and don't be afraid to speculate and expand your knowledge. There is always something interesting going on in science and we have the responsibility to educate each other about it.