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The Forum > Article Comments > Getting excited about science > Comments

Getting excited about science : Comments

By Alan Finkel, published 16/5/2008

With so many competing choices for students the challenge is to excite them about science.

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Alan is right on all issues here. I have only minor disagreements.

When it comes to science and technology "programs" for students we are essentially "preaching to the congregation" of already hooked-on-science students. And it is for precisely that reason that I think we must reform all science curriculum to be more pure-science oriented not less.

By all means develop these programs and introduce more of them into schools, but I would only do so as add-on programs, not as the main programs. Supplementary, not primary.

Our science students, for whatever reason they come to our classrooms, must have the most rigorous syllabus possible to prepare them for a lifetime in science. The "let's get them hooked-on-science" approach has failed for at least a generation, evidenced by them leaving science.

John Daicopoulos
Posted by RenegadeScience, Friday, 16 May 2008 1:21:56 PM
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So what are kids learning in school these days? If it is not science, history and languages it must be something else.

I grew up in Europe in the 70's having to do 5 languages, history, geography and the 3 sciences for the first 4 years of the 6 year high school curriculum.

Makes me feel like I should be on 'grumpy old men'.
Posted by gusi, Friday, 16 May 2008 6:40:10 PM
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Renegade Scientist, thought you might be interested in the Scientific Reasoning acquired from the early Greeks, the origins of democracy being part of my suggesting and questioning?

It was asked in the Guardian newspaper recently why our modern American leaders still have a love of war?

Maybe the same can be asked of modern Islamics?

Historically most white Western nations are said to be descended from the warlike barbarians from over the Alps.

Also most of our modern Middle East Islamics are descended from barborous Arabian tribes.

The British, former barbarians of a virtual tiny island state, have proven themselves both as able seafarers as well as ruthless colonists proving to be an amazing global entity, able to colonise North America, beginning what has now become the strongest idependent power ever, the modern United States.

From the above we now have the horrific situation in the Middle East, seemingly consisting of much of the old barbarian problems mostly between white and dusky white, which according to the now President of the United States, George W Bush, is mostly between right and wrong.

But using scientific reasoning should a leader of a nation based on the colonial subjugation of original native inhabitants be lawfully trusted to make decisions about right and wrong in global politics?

Indeed, it was the reason the German philosopher Immanuel Kant declared back in the late 17th century, that history has proven that not one personage nor even one nation under God should ever be trusted to lawfully manage this world?

It was thus the League of Nations followed by the present United Nations, both beginning with a belief in a democratic representation of Kantian global philosophy, which was simply an elected federation of world nations of arranged equal power with multilateral shared leadership.

But the problem has never been solved how to prevent one virtually ruthless power demanding right of way in this world?

Furthermore, the United States, the now major power, has an unlimited armoury, with other nations limited.

Interestingly, it was during the Korean War that the above was discussed?

Regards - BB, WA.
Posted by bushbred, Saturday, 17 May 2008 2:01:11 AM
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BB I don't see what this has to do with science teaching. Our whole education system (ie not just science) is based on logic and reason. Science is just the application of logic and reason to our observations nature.

When the chief of the WA high school principals suggested that 'elite' subjects like calculus,physics and chemistry should be limited to restricted schools a shudder went down my spine as those subjects are the foundation of maths, science and engineering. No wonder we have a skills shortage.

We'll end end up without the skills to build our own mines but we'll have armies of bean counters and politicians arguing about how to spend the royalties.

FWIW: The Americans have the most advanced military in the world and they see it as the best tool in their toolbox so use it quite often. The Europeans have a slightly less capable army but a very low threshold for casualties they do however have an amazing ability to negotiate endlessly and that is their preferred method of foreign policy. This is called golden hammer syndrome.
Posted by gusi, Saturday, 17 May 2008 5:07:30 AM
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A friend of mine who used to teach high school maths in Queensland left in despair about ten years ago. The students weren't the problem. Essentially, in order to ensure a "no-fail" outcome, there was virtually no new material from years 8 to 10. This was a real turn-off for the bright students, many who might have continued maths were presumably put off, and those who continued started year 11 from a very low base. No amount of new programs can compensate for a systemic lack of commitment by departments of education to a rigorous education in core subjects.

Our kids fortunately had the enthusiasm of their parents as a model and excelled at maths and science (as well as in other fields). But how many parents have left school without having that enthusiasm engendered in them? The author mentions the high profile of climate change, which is due in large part to evangelism and scare-mongering rather than an understanding of scientific principles and practice in the community.

And I agree, the often perspicacious BB is well off-topic here.
Posted by Faustino, Sunday, 18 May 2008 2:42:11 PM
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Alan you want to really get excited about science try checking out these links

try this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykGZ2tRY4kY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ulOvJl46U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqBWk9YRu7c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czZ9kn70Y7I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu8LaVH-pn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6YYUOx6fBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxZR4C9gqOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgrDdJotz0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU8PId_6xec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8stApCmxYEM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHh5AqQ4_xw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Lnhs7caCo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-O7WNvKSvY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrMcBHGMZzc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCjM-ZOqQF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTr3ZgKwsiU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXv6sO52xFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAiTv0IpHWo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0FhADUZjx4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLev-ijMLME

as to how try this as to why they are being kept from our kids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21D3ATgMHuE
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=zp_XHfylwPU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4RZqQujqDQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YnnTzyidNI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGhPgEDcKXI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v76amxA9x1cA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6uTy9Uq0K0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSBxEZoNfQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq_APNsERXY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLqw59XfG04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRLR7-jdF3M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14yDP0GKrUA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muQRIUVd6Aw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kp24ZeHtv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_MHVw1Zz-I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLzUNDaF00U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9MQ88NEO7Q

well
we could nationalise 'big oil [and big pharma
to free up our childrens minds
[then join the suppressed research to gether [AND HEAL THE WORLD}

but we wont [cause we cant]
because we arnt allowed to see the big picture
[because of privatised proffit's]

we are spending billions subsidising these multinationals with our taxes [every week ]

billions spent pills and potions that dont cure us
clearly big BUISNESS lobby is paid to stay on top of this info
to ridicule it where they can
or suppress it where they cant

but for the alternative of [free] energy
that is based on science

that your regular scientists are forbidden to explore
that of which you speak is thus unspeakable
so

[why are they controlled and owned by the same cartel's"]

[and are making us sicker ,by treating the symptom
[BUT NEVER actually even allowed to cure THE DISEASE]
why
because they have an active lobby
have bought out govt
and

they CAN and do pay BLOGGERS to blog
pay govt not to research them [by peer revieuws]

[and to rubbish any one trying to reveal the truth]
Posted by one under god, Thursday, 29 May 2008 8:27:44 AM
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