Comments on: Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour - Making Science Matter http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/03/04/dr-kikis-science-hour-making-science-matter/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations to science journalism Tue, 22 May 2012 04:43:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: David Wescott http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/03/04/dr-kikis-science-hour-making-science-matter/#comment-17068 David Wescott Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:05:41 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/03/04/dr-kikis-science-hour-making-science-matter/#comment-17068 I kind of agree with Jon, but not completely. I think we all have an obligation to explain how science is relevant and not just write off people who can't simply see that. Podcasts like this help, but who's listening? mostly people who are already scientists or science enthusiasts. If you really want people to learn something you have to go to them, not sit back and expect them to come to you. I'm in the lobbying and PR business, but I didn't get excited about that because I saw "Thank You For Smoking." I got into it because someone explained to me how working in government and public affairs could have an impact on people's lives. I kind of agree with Jon, but not completely. I think we all have an obligation to explain how science is relevant and not just write off people who can’t simply see that. Podcasts like this help, but who’s listening? mostly people who are already scientists or science enthusiasts. If you really want people to learn something you have to go to them, not sit back and expect them to come to you.

I’m in the lobbying and PR business, but I didn’t get excited about that because I saw “Thank You For Smoking.” I got into it because someone explained to me how working in government and public affairs could have an impact on people’s lives.

]]> By: Jon http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/03/04/dr-kikis-science-hour-making-science-matter/#comment-16980 Jon Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:17:06 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/03/04/dr-kikis-science-hour-making-science-matter/#comment-16980 Kiki, I don't think the problem is with the teachers nearly as much as it is with the students and their parents. Above all, parents need to instill the importance of a good education into their children. Next, the students have to be self-motivated enough to put the effort in to learn. With all of the sci-fi movies and books out there and all of the advances and technology that is in their faces, you would think that today's kids would be excited about learning science. Science isn't a goal in itself; it represents a better understanding about how our universe works. That understanding is power (metaphorically). If students won't study and don't see the relevance of science and technology to their lives, then they are doomed to "flip burgers" and countries with populations of 1+ billion are going to take over the lead from the U.S. Kiki, I don’t think the problem is with the teachers nearly as much as it is with the students and their parents. Above all, parents need to instill the importance of a good education into their children. Next, the students have to be self-motivated enough to put the effort in to learn. With all of the sci-fi movies and books out there and all of the advances and technology that is in their faces, you would think that today’s kids would be excited about learning science. Science isn’t a goal in itself; it represents a better understanding about how our universe works. That understanding is power (metaphorically). If students won’t study and don’t see the relevance of science and technology to their lives, then they are doomed to “flip burgers” and countries with populations of 1+ billion are going to take over the lead from the U.S.

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