Debates about the Topic of Scientific Literacy - Essay Example

Scientific Literacy, what it is, why it is important and why Scientists think we do not have it Introduction There has been numerous debates about the topic of scientific literacy as scholars strive to unravel what the topic is about and how it can be applied in the life of humans. Scientific literacy can be defined as the ability to use knowledge that is scientific in nature, as well as come up with questions and conclusions that can be supported by valid evidence. With the use of scientific literacy, it becomes possible to make decisions that relate to the natural phenomenon and the changes that the natural environment has experienced as a result of human activities. Some of the claims that can be evaluated and assessed with the use of scientific literacy include environmental degradation such as global warming, as well as the introduction of genetically modified organization. Scientific literacy should be studied since it affects numerous aspects of human life as will be discussed in the paper. It can be studied, as well as acquired through experiences. This paper will respond to the issue of scientific literacy and provide an argument as to what the concept entails. The question that the paper will primarily focus on is; Why is scientific literacy an issue that warrants scientific inquiry and what can be learned from this concept? In my opinion, there are numerous changes in the natural world that are taking place on a daily basis and these changes should be understood scientifically. Such an understanding can only be gained through scientific literacy, which helps people to interpret natural phenomenon and make sense of what is taking place in the world. Literacy in science encourages curiosity, and as a result, people are able to learn many things and make predictions of natural concepts and events. Moreover, scientifically literate persons have the ability to make points of view and come up with ideas that can be said to be scientific. Scientific literacy enables people to assess whether information is of good quality by evaluating where the information came from and the strategies employed while generating this information. Discussion Various publications have been made about science. From these publications, it is evident that science matters a lot and scientific literacy entails the knowledge that helps a person to understand issues that affect the public. In addition, scientific literature is essential in enabling a person to put new developments that have been experienced in the world into action and categorize them to the context they belong. It is true that the exposure of Americans to science is minimal and they cannot be said to fully understand and cope with the emergent situations in life. In the contemporary world, the issue of scientific literacy can be well understood in the context of DNA molecules since DNA is the major determinant for many forms of life. The life of a human beings is to a great extent influenced by genes. In the modern times, a lot of research is being conducted with the ultimate aim of improving human genes and ensuring that new life forms come to being (Martin et al 81). Scientific literacy has a significant relationship with cultural, as well as social issues. The cultural and social components of scientific literacy cannot be regarded as dominant since they only reflect what real science entails. From the article, one can deduce that health has been largely affected by scientific literacy. Health technology has experienced outstanding advancements as a result of development of scientific knowledge and the resulting effect is that epidemiology, immunology, as well as genetics have changed a lot. Biotechnology is a product of scientific developments and its effect on health improvement is immense. There are numerous ways in which biotechnology, which has been enhanced by scientific literacy, has contributed to the advancement of human health (Martin et al 82). For example, technology in the medical industry has led to the improvement of therapy and also made it easier to keep medical records through in the form of electronic health records. Not only does scientific literacy affect scientists, but also affects non-scientists. People who have little scientific knowledge always have something to say about scientific issues such as the immune system. This implies that scientific knowledge is applicable in diverse situations of life and not confined to several contexts only. Thus, literacy in science should be taught in many forums and people given an opportunity to get an idea of what science is all about (Martin et al 82). Scientific literacy is a central component since it covers different forms of knowledge compared to various fields. It is applied by people when discussing issues such as the immune system, which is a central component of scientific literacy. People from various contexts have something to say about the immune system and other issues highlighted by scientific literacy. (Martin et al 83). Scientific literacy calls for people to think about the problems in their surroundings and come up with the solutions to these problems without necessarily having to depend on help from the relevant authorities. For example, through scientific literacy, people can learn about how to improve their health and at the same time lead lives that are free from diseases and illnesses. Diseases such as cancer and AIDS can be avoided only if human beings do not engage in activities that can contribute to these diseases. Healthy living habit can be helpful since they can assist a person to avoid such diseases. Everyone has the mandate to learn how to improve their own health status and condition without waiting for the government and health professionals to help them all the time. The significance of scientific literacy also emanates from its ability to question whether western medicine is powerful or not. Through scientific literacy, some scholars argue that western medicine does not have the capacity to understand whether the human body is powerful or not. For instance, it is challenging for western medicine to understand the causes of some diseases such as cancer (Martin et al 83). The advancement of western medicine has led to improved understanding of what causes such diseases. Medicine in the western cultures is advanced to the extent that doctors can devises ways to prevent such diseases. Science contends that it might be challenging for humans to change their lives to meet the demands of the immune system. Rather, what humans do is to train the immune system to become part of their lives and adjust accordingly to avert some illnesses. Scientific literacy is essential in understanding the connection between various phenomena in life. People understand their immune the immune system by applying the scientific knowledge they have about it, as well as from their daily interactions with the system. In terms of scientific literacy, the immune system plays the role of protection since it shields the body from diverse illnesses that might affect it in the absence of such a system (Martin et al 84). Scientific literacy helps in understanding the role of sexual relationships between humans. This can be evidenced by the discussion about Phillip and George who are a gay couple, yet many people are being affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although gay and other persons in same-sex relationships tend to talk about the issue of AIDS, it is apparent that the activities they engage in cannot protect them from contracting the virus. Since the activities of gay persons are somehow risky and endanger health, there are high chances that they will contract HIV. The article is also essential since it highlights the arguments of humans who might be engaging in unacceptable behavior, which they want to rationalize. For example, gay persons may argue that it is inappropriate to wear protection during intercourse with their partners since such an action threatens the relationships between partners (Martin et al 84). After reading the article, I realized that scientific literacy helps one to understand why some people want to give explanations for their actions, which are not prohibited by the society. For example, some people may argue that there is no need to protect oneself during intercourse since there is the element of love between two people who are in love. While people might be deeply in love, they do not necessarily open their hearts and tell the other partner the truth. The lack of openness, as mandated by scientific literacy, has been a major cause of diseases such as AIDS. Scientific literacy, therefore, requires people to take a course of action that will not harm them in the end, but instead engage in behaviors that do not put their lives or the lives of others at risk (Martin et al 85). It is true that scientific literacy determines other aspects such as crime and security. It is through scientific literacy that humans establish boundaries to mark their territories and ensure that unwanted persons do not enter the territories. People should understand the risk and the harm associated with getting to certain boundaries and learn to avoid areas that might be risky. This is because crossing borders and going to risky areas might result to consequences such as being attacked. With this in mind, scientific literary calls for humans to be conscious of their actions and always engage in meaningful actions while avoiding actions that are not beneficial to them. People should apply scientific literacy knowledge to determine what is good and bad. Such knowledge helps people to avoid being in danger and keep off from behaviors and actions that might be regretful in the future (Martin et al 87). Scientific literacy is also crucial since it helps in understanding what motivates humans to organize themselves for a beneficial cause. Through the scientific knowledge they have gained, people learn to keep their environments safe. For instance, they can organize for patrols during the night to maintain security, especially if there is insecurity in the area where they reside. Other actions that people can take include keeping in the touch with the police in order to enhance the spirit of community policing. The importance of scientific literacy also emanates from its ability to help people understand the concept of autonomy, as well as fundamental human rights. In the article, the authors have identified the human immune system as autonomous and this is why it manages to play its roles without any external interference. The same case should apply to humans; in order for people to be effective in what they do, they ought to be allowed to be independent rather than being dependent all the time. The authors of the article have discussed the topic thoroughly and given a lot of details about the topic under discussion. Right from the beginning of the article, the reader is able to understand what scientific literacy entails and the various ways in which it relates to crucial life aspects. People need to make their own evaluations and determine the claims made in science before coming into conclusions. Decisions should be made on the basis of careful scientific evaluation and assessment that follows the rules of science. Thus, scientific literacy is crucial since it guides people to make sound decisions without being confused. It is essential for students to learn science and develop scientific knowledge, which will guide them in many aspects of life. Students who are scientifically literate have the capacity to apply concepts in assessing problems that they may face in life. Personal Reflection Scientific literacy has the ability to affect diverse aspects of human life. The everyday life of humans is guide by their knowledge of how science influences them. Institutions of learning should find a way of incorporating scientific literacy in the curriculum and ensure that students are taught about this concept. The use of scientific literacy is inevitable and this implies that it is rare for people to live without being inspired by this concept. As a result of the way the topic is debated, it is clear that many people consider it as powerful. From my point of view, the knowledge that scientific literacy instills helps people to develop the ability to interpret phenomenon. Conclusion Scientific literacy is a topic that has been debated for a long time. The topic has diverse applications in the life of human beings. The concept helps people to make personal decisions and at the same time take part in meaningful activities within the society. Through scientific literacy, people can learn to be productive, both socially and economically. Moreover, the concept tends to explore the specific abilities that human beings might be possessing. People’s ability to describe natural phenomenon can be enhanced through scientific literacy. Conclusions made in scientific arguments can be validated scientifically by relying on scientific knowledge. Works Cited Martin, Emily, Claeson, Bjorn, Richardson, Schoch-Schana, Monica and Taussig, Karen-Sue. Scientific Literacy, What it is, Why It’s Important, and Why Scientists Think We Don’t Have It. New York: New York University, 2013. Print. Read More