Anyone who knew me in high school would probably be surprised to know that I am now a biology major. I shunned calculus, dreaded chemistry, and made AP Environmental Science my third and final science credit. Somehow, that class convinced me to give environmental studies a shot. But I quickly realized that I wasn't going to understand much besides public policy unless I dove into biology headfirst. To further push me past my fear of hard-core science, I read a New York Times article about how deficiency in understanding science negatively affected our nation's policies-- on issues from stem cell research to global warming.
So I was really excited to read this article in the New York Times on Sunday by Brian Greene (who was on NPR's Talk of the Nation last Friday). Besides talking about the urgent need for better science education, he talks about the wonders of really understanding science.
"But here’s the thing. The reason science really matters runs deeper still. Science is a way of life. Science is a perspective. Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that’s precise, predictive and reliable — a transformation, for those lucky enough to experience it, that is empowering and emotional. To be able to think through and grasp explanations — for everything from why the sky is blue to how life formed on earth — not because they are declared dogma but rather because they reveal patterns confirmed by experiment and observation, is one of the most precious of human experiences."I couldn't agree more. Ever since I really got into my science classes, I've looked at everything (life, religion, fact, habits, etc.) differently. This does not discount the value of literature, art, and the social sciences, which are also important to understand. But none of those subjects ever transformed my world-view like this. It's liberating.
Plus, science is taking me to Mongolia!
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