TED Conversations

Aashil Desai

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Does it make sense for every field to have at least some backround knowledge in science?

Wilson mentions, "[The World requires more people] in education, medicine, law, diplomacy, government, business, and the media that exist today [with a basic backround in science]"

Is this necessary, that almost every field from politics to the media be filled with scientifically literate people?

Related Talks:
0
Share:
progress indicator
  • thumb

    Debra Smith 200+

    • 0
    Jul 25 2012: Yes, I think every field must but in fields which generally have thousands if not millions of participants someone will present with this knowledge. We must simply find a way for them to have sufficient input to tell us when our assumptions or choices are misdirected.
  • thumb

    Keith Cheng

    • +1
    Jul 4 2012: It appears to me that in any democratic governance, ethos comes first. That is, the foremost question must be, "What is best for society at large?", rather than "What is best for MY tribe?" Thereafter, the best outcomes will come only if those who vote or participate in public affairs have enough scientific literacy to be able to distinguish the difference between superstition and evidence-based science and to understand the depth of danger we are in today in managing our world. Our political decisions have far more impact on people and the biosphere than in the past. With that comes greater responsibility.

  • Ted Apelt

    • 0
    Jul 3 2012: It makes sense for every field to have a good grounding in how science works. For example, it is important to understand what falsifiable means and why we need large sample sizes, peer review, reproducible results, double blinding, and all the other protocols that make science work. It is also important to understand some of the basic foundational principles of science, for example how there are no certainties, only probabilities.
  • thumb

    Lejan . 30+

    • 0
    TED Translator
    Jun 27 2012: Yes, it does. And I try to imagine how one could possibly get arround it in modern educational systems today.
    Doesn't it feels much more comfortable to know, that doctors have heard and understood about 'pressure' if they check our pulses. That judges can estimate forensic evidence which releases us. That diplomats know about 'cause and effect' while acting in our names. That our company leaders can read and understand trendcharts. And that the TV news anchor has heard about backcoupling to safe our ears? And education? Well, this is self-explanatory.

    All of them don't have to be close to the Noble Prize but I would not mind if they are. :o)
  • thumb

    Chung Truong Thanh 50+

    • 0
    TED Translator
    Jun 26 2012: ...a basic backround in science. The word "basic" is emphasized here.

    Absolutely, some basic of science (both social science and natural science) is needed wherever and whatever field you are working on.
  • thumb

    Vida Bee

    • 0
    Jun 26 2012: Yes. Scientific literacy is useful in a very broad way. It teaches people to process information and be critical of it. The same way English literacy is required in most fields even if writing isn't a major aspect of the work.
  • thumb

    Fritzie Reisner 100+

    • +2
    Host
    Jun 25 2012: It is not so much that every field needs an underpinning of scientific literacy (if you are using the word field to mean discipline) as that basic scientific literacy helps us understand the world better and to participate more effectively in modern life and civic roles. But people practicing many aspects of the disciplines that you list would need scientific understaning directly. Someone in education, in medicine, in various aspects of law, in diplomacy or media involving for example environmental or patent issues...
  • thumb

    Stewart Gault 30+

    • +1
    Jun 25 2012: Yes because it sparks imagination and a thrill to know and study. Not everyone has to be scientifically literate to a high degree but enough so that they know where they came from etc what type of universe we live in, the big things, then people get interested (as a hobby) in different areas and just read up and generally enjoy learning and that's something that society is missing. A few other perks come alongside being scientifically literate, you start to really really enjoy the little things and the large. Like just sitting and thinking about the actual process of boiling water is in its own sense incredible, or thinking about if you look at a certain part of the night sky you can't actually see it but you know that in that direction Andromeda is headed straight for us. To me it makes life more beautiful. And this is just for people who aren't even in a scientific field. It changes the way in which we think about the world, we suddenly realise that we are a fragile primate species who can have a huge affect on the rock we're stranded on. Last point on non scientific fields, the best example of science inspiring people is the Apollo missions, that really changed the world, people were rediscovering space and as it's famously said, we went to the moon but discovered Earth.
    Then as a scientist it's your duty to absorb knowledge from everywhere, you never know what may or may not be relevant to your work and so just generally accumulating knowledge gives you a wider base from which to work from and can only be advantageous.
    • thumb

      Mark Kurtz 20+

      • +1
      Jun 26 2012: I concur.
      It very well could spark imagination; perhaps many years after formal education. One never knows when someone will offer an opinion and it will remind you of something learned earlier!

      People with improved education are more fun to talk to than ignorant ones. But, then again, an ignorant person just might ask a profoundly important question that would spark profound discussion!

      Basics of science ought to help us all see that we are on a small planet in a very large cosmic enterprise.

      A friend signs off with, "Be of good cheer". Learning more makes a person more cheerful when he realizes value for self and others. Its an idea worth spreading.

      What do other friends say?
      MK
Showing all 9 comments