Teaching citizenship through science: socio-scientific issues as an important component of citizenship
This paper is based on the view that many of the issues facing us as modern citizens are underpinned by science, and that pupils should therefore consider socio-scientific issues in the course of their formal science education. This should lay the foundations for decision-making and actions in adult...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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2006.
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| Online Access: | Get fulltext |
| Summary: | This paper is based on the view that many of the issues facing us as modern citizens are underpinned by science, and that pupils should therefore consider socio-scientific issues in the course of their formal science education. This should lay the foundations for decision-making and actions in adulthood in relation to controversial science-based problems of society. Many areas of debate at all levels from government to the media relate to socio-scientific issues: How do we handle an imminent bird flu pandemic? Is genetic modification the future of medicines and global food supply? Is climate change really as big a threat to humanity as scientists tell us? How conclusive is DNA evidence in a murder trial? Should we consider building a new generation of nuclear power stations? These are examples of typical socio-scientific issues which impact on us all, from determining policy through to individual decision making. |
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