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Science Education: A Basic Scientist's View of Translational Medicine.
Author(s) -
SchwartzBloom Rochelle D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.85.1
Subject(s) - marketing buzz , obligation , scientific literacy , translational medicine , publication , population , public relations , engineering ethics , science education , political science , sociology , psychology , medicine , mathematics education , computer science , engineering , law , demography , pathology , world wide web
The big buzz‐word these days is "translational medicine". Basic scientists must demonstrate how their research findings can lead to the improvement of human health. However, the general population knows relatively little about what scientists really do, and given problems in our K‐12 science education, we are facing a danger of becoming a scientifically‐illerate society. As basic scientists, have an obligation to help society understand what we do and what it means. What good is it if we make wonderful discoveries and publish our findings in scientific journals, but the public doesn't understand what we discover? Shouldn't our society have the basic tools to understand science so they can make informed decisions about their lives? A lack of science literacy at the K‐12 level creates future adults who are science illiterate. And when these folks go to the polls, they may make ill‐informed decisions as they cast their ballots. So, to me, translational medicine also means articulating what we do as scientists to the K‐12 students, the public, and legislators, to help them better understand our science, and how it affects their lives and their health. My approach to "translating science" is embodied in science education activities that I have developed for the high school student & teacher population. I will present some examples, and show how such approaches can have real impact on learning and interest in science.