Via Eurekalert a poll of American attitudes toward science confirms that people are a little confused about the whole science thing. I think the most concise desription of the problem is in the second sentence:
Most (87%) rate being a scientist as one of the most prestigious careers, yet 75% can't name a living scientist.
Yep. That's your problem, right there.
(As an aside, am I the only one who sees the name of the group that conducted the study, Research!America, and thinks:
Research!America = (Reasearch)(Research-1)(Research-2)...(2)(1)(America) ?
(I am? Oh, good.)
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(America)(2*pi*Research)^1/2 *(Research / e)^(Research)
For all large values of Research >> Procrastination
So how does that square with the 30 or so % that think science is evil because it contradicts their religion? Or is it that they don't really have a clue what science is in the first place?
It makes me think researcamericah(h-1)(h-2)...(2)
I read "Research!America" as "Research not America". I might spend too much time working with computer languages.
I agree with Dioctor Jekyll! I immediately said to myself - hey "Research not America", how appropriate!
I thought it was a UUCP path.
"While a majority (66%) say that the most important scientific research today takes place in medical and health-related fields, they also say medical progress is greatly influenced by research in chemistry (83%), computer science (62%), physics (58%), math (56%) and engineering (49%)."
Well, I certainly hope BIOLOGY is included in 'medical and health-related fields' (though I think it's not appropriate to do so); otherwise, that's a hell of an omission...
Heh. I'm with you, Doctor Jekyll and Markk. ...Although I work at a mathematical society, so I should probably make sure that no one around here finds out I jumped to the computer logic perspective instead of factorials...
Maybe they're taking their cue from pretentious band names like Godspeed You! Black Emperor?
I thought "Research Bang America".
@The Ridger: do you have a source for that 30% or so figure?
I'd bet (ok, maybe "hope" is a better word) it's actually much lower than that.
--sdc
sorry to be the contrarian, but...
Yep. That's your problem, right there
what's the problem? that fame doesn't equal respect? that seems reasonable enough to me. i think probably most famous people (and the most famous of people) are anti-role models. we should be happy with the 87%.
I can name some supreme court justices, but I can't name a lawyer, either. I can only name my own primary care physician.