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Public Misconceptions about Science

Public Misconceptions about Science. Harris Workshop May 2012 (Vishakha Monga). CHEMICALS ARE BAD AND TOXIC Misconception about same chemicals extracted from a natural source is SAFE but when synthesized in the lab is TOXIC.

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Public Misconceptions about Science

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  1. Public Misconceptions about Science Harris Workshop May 2012 (Vishakha Monga)

  2. CHEMICALS ARE BAD AND TOXIC • Misconception about same chemicals extracted from a natural source is SAFE but when synthesized in the lab is TOXIC. • Medicine from natural plant extracts SAFE without understanding the side effects of the remaining components even though Synthetic Pharmaceuticals have the exact composition required. • MEDIA HYPE (Journalist) ACCEPTABLE BUT SCIENTIFIC FACTS (Scientist) NOT TRUSTWORTHY • Will trust a “cow” over a chemist. • Margarine mistrusted (composition very close to a plastic) over butter. • Images of scientists portrayed as someone “geeky” and “weird”. • People are happy not knowing or discussing science as we use “jargon” to explain everyday basic concepts. • Good news is No News!!! • We, the chemists are also the general public and we fail to take our scientific concepts home!

  3. INTER-DISCIPLINARY CONNECTION MISSING • When teaching chemistry, relate chemistry concepts with psychology, biology, physics, biochemistry • Peptide/ Amide Bond • Units used in Biology vs. Chemistry (kcal vs. kJ) • Units: metric vs. imperial system (kg vs. lbs) • Measuring quantities • How much is 1 mole of water? • pH vs. log/ exponential scale

  4. ARE THE STUDENTS BEING RECEPTIVE TO OUR TEACHING AND TAKING THE MESSAGE BACK TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES? • Difference between temp. vs. heat transfer • Hot water freezes faster than cold water • They think what they learn in class is “artificial” and not applicable when they leave the classroom/ lab. • Science is not accepted by public.

  5. SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: • Enforce problem solving skills from the very beginning so that we provide them with the tools to “think in the proper way”. • Not just memorize and regurgitate • Teach the fundamentals and then follow it up with “story telling” involving real life applications • Making tea: involves refluxing and extracting • Explain how fermentation works without “dumbing” it down because kids are like sponges and will learn early. • Things like antiobiotics/ nitrogen fixation/ vaccines have all contributed towards improving our lifestyle and adding to our life spans • Green Chemistry - Recycling! • Morphine/ Heroine connection • Teach them the basics of scientific language/ methodology • O2vs O3 or CO2vsCO

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