Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
There's no way you're ever going to get the entire public educated up to the standard of a science graduate or higher. It's not only practically impossible, it's also not going to happen because only a few will have the education and intelligence to reach that level and not everyone is interested in science.
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While I have broad agreement with a lot of what you're saying Carl, I think you're on shaky ground with the intelligence bit. It's a bad assumption to think that you need high intelligence to understand or be educated in science, and this idea of exclusivity is one of the prime misconceptions that leads people to undervalue their own brainpower, and even resent science and scientists.
Some of the dumbest people I've ever met were at university, and progressed to perfectly respectable scientific careers. Some of the most intelligent people I've ever met have been digging ditches, or working in mines, or shearing sheds. And vice versa! Intelligence is a human condition, while education is a class condition. High intelligence may be required to make the Einsteinian and Hawkingsian (
) leaps forward in science, but really most are just highly educated punters doing the daily grind in their chosen scientific field.
All that is needed is a relatively privileged (as opposed to underprivileged) start in life that gives you the opportunity & support, and enough interest, ambition and discipline to get you through. Intelligence is the least of the requirements. And it is the least of the requirements if you want to understand science.
Cheers -