Unruled Notebook

How much do we like Science? How much has Science contributed to our welfare? How much do we regard scientists? As the public of a nation or the World, how would we answer these questions? Perhaps with subjective answers accompanied with a bright nod or a rueful shake of the head.

How much Science then, is the least we should be knowing as public?

Would we parry the question as no definite measurable answer seems possible?

A recent Pew Research Center for the People and the Press survey [1] in the USA attempts to find the answer through a short online quiz that asks twelve questions. The questions are a valid measure for all informed humans to test their awareness of expected minimum Science knowledge.

Rewind few years to when the US National Science Foundation’s ‘Science and Engineering Indicators 2000′ reported that less than half of those questioned knew that:

1. The earliest humans did not live at the same time as the dinosaurs
2. It takes the Earth one year to travel around the Sun or
3. Electrons are smaller than atoms

The same survey also stated only 29 percent of those questioned could define DNA; only 13 percent could define molecule and 21 percent were able to explain what it means to study something scientifically. Also, Gallup polls indicate about or less than one half of the American public believe in the evolution. Citing these results in the introduction section of his recent book A Beginner’s Guide to Evolution (2008), Prof. Burton S. Guttman laments:

…no one is campaigning to keep Americans ignorant of the definition of a molecule or the location of the Pacific Ocean, while a vigorous campaign is being waged to convince people that the ‘theory of evolution’ is not only wrong but evil, sinful, and destructive of the fabric of our society.

He adds, apart from discussing the facts of evolution in the book, he will also debunk nonsense – stating it in politically correct terms:

[...]have to devote some space to questions of the nature of knowledge, the structure of science in general, the domains of science and religion, and the place of science in society.

Come back to 2009, the above situation remains. The quiz mentioned at the start was spawned originally from the 2009 Pew Research Center survey on how the public and scientists view Science. The survey results provide further evidence for the immediacy of such popular books on scientific concepts written by scientists:

The differences between public and scientists do go beyond evolution, and the general reason for this seems obvious. Public regard and praise scientists, as reported in the earlier section of the survey. But their disagreement on several established scientific understanding expose that regard as not based on what scientists bring out as facts (evolution, for instance). The regard is a cultivated obeisance by the public to what they perceive as esoteric higher-level ignorance.

From personal experience and observation, I would presume the situation is not different in India. Read the comments section of my critique on the purported scientific view of the Gayathri Mantra for a revealing validation. Or the wrong beliefs of a popular actor – one who has clout on the public opinion – on evolution and other aspects of science. For completion with irony, I could cite here the emails I receive explaining in copious text how the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu (dasavatharam) already explain evolution correctly. Scientists and related academics are regarded by us – if at all – only because we presume they know certain things that we don’t know; things we don’t want to know. Irrespective of how such knowledge could affect and change our mostly unquestioned beliefs.

This observation is only reiterated by the survey result:

Scientists are regarded positively even by those sceptical of scientific conclusions. That view is disturbing, nevertheless rooted. In a recent note – Academia’s Function, while highlighting the failures of academia, Robin Hanson notes that students want to be taught by teachers who are good in research, yet don’t know (or care to know, I may add) what that research is. For students and their parents – coming from all slices of society, i.e. public – the place they get their education from should be reputed and prestigious only to ensure a financially comfortable future. Very few of them care to contribute back to the research and (hence, one may add) prestige of the institute. In short, as public, we would like to hail our teachers, but not for the correct reason. To claim I regard my teacher in spite of her teachings is queasy.

On a general setting, as Robin Hanson wonders, the citizens – informed or ignorant – like to fund their country’s research program as a matter of prestige or pride but not for how they would benefit – at least in the long run – from such research. This is only too evident in India. Think of the recently concluded elections for example. Not too long before the Indian Government was hell-bent on signing a nuclear deal with the USA to ensure unlimited fuel supply. The related ideological uproar in the parliament made a party revoke its support for the then governing party and another, idea-illogical. Yet, this science related issue did not play a significant role in the voters decision.

We vote mostly swayed by expedient logic whose purvey has limited scope and vision – who is the lesser crook; whose rule legitimize only lesser corruption; will my community or profession benefit; to TV or not to be and so on. Which science policy of the nation ever swayed our voting? What is the science policy or promises by any one of our politicians? Did we even bother to ask the candidates in our constituency before voting to get them to govern us? I am not arguing that the major issues deciding votes in an election – terrorism in any form and safety, quality of life, recession, crime and corruption – aren’t relevant. That Science or anything remotely related to it doesn’t feature even in the top twenty [see also Ref. 3] proves their impotent status in public mind.

An indirect (the more cynical say, direct) result is the perpetuity of our superstitious beliefs and public ignorance. Read for instance If your child has diarrhea, what do you do? and Worldview of Indian Scientists.

On the other hand, just as in the 2009 survey of the US public [2] or the Public Attitudes to Science 2008 of the UK public [4] or the 2004 survey of the Indian public [5] certainly keep Science and Technology and its contributions in high regard amongst the public.

Interactions of public with scientists and academics (or vice versa) mostly diffuse to standstill. Self-citation, silly elsewhere is relevant here. In the past six years, whenever an educated public meets me, the conversation stutters with a nervous start and if not sputters quickly to an end thereabout, meanders to settle into a comfort zone of recent movies watched, music listened to, dismal state of the country, dilution of the IIT system (whatever that is) or US bashing. Never it is about what I do as research and why it should be interesting for them (Indian public).

I am not sure, even if asked, I would have given a convincing and inspiring answer. But the question never arise only reiterates the survey results. Yet, those who conversed all outwardly regard me. They think I know something important and useful for them. Only, they wouldn’t want to ask because of presumed ignorance or inability to communicate or whatever. Our mutual guilt precipitates such conversation only with non-Science, if not nonsense.

Baseless regard and undeserved reputation are dangerous. The former can easily turn vindictive upon coercion and nullify the latter.

Obviously, such coercion, as Prof. Guttman lamented, is already very much present in our society and exerts enough influence on the public. Sadly, the much required counter-influence is lacking from the right peer group. As the survey finds, Scientists blame the media and public for lack of scientific knowledge.

Yes, we read it right. Scientists are regarded by the public who are blamed indirectly (via media) by the scientists for their lack of appreciation of Science and its findings.

I shall refrain from launching into preachy litany of how scientists cannot remain in their science-speak confines, blaming the media for public’s lack of appreciation of science and its methods. The responsibility of scientists doesn’t end only with accumulating scientific knowledge. It is foolhardy to wait in snobbish comfort for the public to surmount obstacles of irrationality and understand such scientific knowledge and facts, realize their importance and use them responsibly. As the discussed survey results shows:

It is not waste of time for scientists to engage the public by popularizing the science practised by them. Such educated apathy undermines their exalted position of pursuing a challenging activity. They would then loose their right to criticize that journalist for bad science reporting. Or even their neighbour for superstition.

The measure of our apathy is an indirect reflection of our scores in the Pew Research Survey Online Quiz. As a citizen if we score less than average, we can consider ourself guilty for not paying more attention to basic science that affects our daily lives. As an informed citizen or scientist if we manage to ace the quiz, we can hold ourself guilty for not conveying that basic science literacy to our brothers and sisters.

References

1. Pew Research Survey Online Quiz
2. 2009 Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science
3. 2009 Indian Elections, How India Voted – Hindu website, pdf file of deciding issues
4. Public Attitudes to Science 2008 – UK Survey
5. 2004 Indian Science Survey Report – pdf of full report available from Indian National Science Academy website