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Science and Policy
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In this lesson, you will examine and summarize some of the science-related policy positions of the Obama administration, and debate the merits. The ability to critically evaluate scientific debate is a vital skill for every citizen to have. It creates an informed citizenry that can shape public science policy by supporting the use of best-practices science and engineering accepted by an international body of scientists.
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To begin, warm up to the challenges of communicating science and evaluating evidence by watching the online video that is famous in the “hall of hoaxes,” The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest, produced by the BBC on April 1, 1957.
Consider these questions as you watch the video:
- This is a real hoax; that is, it was made to fool people. What’s your general reaction to this clip? Are you tempted to believe it? Why or why not? Be specific about the evidence that tempts you to believe and that which repels you from believing this.
- How is the information presented in this video structured? The flower to fruit to harvested product?
- Why does science have power in our society? What about it is powerful?
- What about the scene where the spaghetti is measured in length. What’s the purpose of that scene?
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Check with your teacher before continuing.
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To first get some background information about how government policy can impact scientific research, you should study these two documents:
Consider the questions below as you are reading these documents. You can write your answers to these questions on the Science and Policy student sheet.
- The leadership of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) thinks "science is at a crossroads." What does the phrase "at a crossroads" mean? Why is it of concern that American science is at a crossroads? Give examples of areas of American life that are based in scientific excellence.
- In its press release, the AAAS leadership mentioned three social trends in particular that threaten the quality of American science. What are they, and why do they hold the potential to weaken science?
- What is the relationship between these three trends and science and government?
- What role does the White House Science and Technology Advisor play in all this? How much money is at stake?
- What are the three overarching recommendations made in the "Critical Upgrade" report to the next president?
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Check with your teacher before continuing.
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To help you prepare for your Science Café, you can make use of these resources:
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Check with your teacher before continuing.
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© Copyright AAAS 2009. All rights reserved.
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