101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science - Softcover

Dia Michels; Nathan Levy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967802059 ISBN 13: 9780967802053

Publisher: Science, Naturally!, 2006

Synopsis

Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder? What keeps the planets orbiting around the sun? What metal is a liquid at room temperature? Science affects everything -- yet so many of us wish we understood it better. Using an accessible question-and-answer approach, key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and general science are explored and demystified in this award-winning book. An engaging and fun way to better your understanding of how science surrounds us every day.

About this title

From the Publisher:

I searched long and hard to find a fun science summer camp for my 14-year-old daughter, Kaely. Though we live in a major metropolitan area, there were not many choices. In the end, we flew her 1,000 miles to attend a camp at Northern Illinois University. In contrast, her little sister attended soccer camp a few blocks from home, and her brother went to musical theater camp just down the road. Sports camps are abundant. Drama camps are plentiful. Science camps are another story - there are far fewer of them. Because many people consider science too difficult and too tangential to normal life, it is often seen as a specialty field of study reserved for just 'the really nerdy kids.' I don't think Kaely will become a professional scientist. That is precisely why it is so important for me to make sure that she and her siblings have regular exposure to science topics. She may not even take any science classes beyond her school requirements, so the necessity for additional learning is clear - not being a scientist does not excuse you from understanding science. How disappointed I would be if my children couldn't figure out a restaurant tip, didn't appreciate the works of William Shakespeare, couldn't figure out how to find Timbuktu on a map, or had no understanding of why the United Nations was formed. By the same token, I expect them to know how hurricanes are forecast, what pasteurization means, why a circuit works, when the pH scale is useful, and what a controlled study is. Do you know enough about science? Scientists, educators and public policy experts agree that there is a general lack of public understanding about science. Science is one of the methods we use to attempt to understand the world around us. It helps us think about, respond to, and manipulate our world - hopefully for the better! Understanding science can make the difference between clarity and confusion when it comes to thinking about important issues like cancer risk, space exploration, and genetically modified foods. We reap the benefits of this understanding in the technology created to generate the fuels we use to run our cars, the cleaners we use to destroy deadly microbes in our water supply, and the medical tests that may save our lives. We see the consequences of our misunderstanding in the ecological problems caused by inappropriate chemical use, the evolution of drug-resistant pathogens as a result of overuse of antibiotics, and the effect of urbanization on the earth's declining biodiversity. Science knowledge is not as simple as memorizing a list of facts. It is, more fundamentally, the process of seeking and analyzing data in order to ask questions, producing coherent explanations or theories about how things happen, and then making rational decisions. Being able to form critical, scientific questions means that we can be involved in all kinds of active learning, from collecting and sorting to measuring, observing, analyzing, and discussing. In this age of such rapid technological advances, understanding science gives us the tools we need to keep up with and manage change. This books asks for distinct answers to scientific questions. The challenge, though, is to redirect the focus away from looking just for the right answer, to looking for more precise and useful questions. Science is a process of curiosity. It may start with a deliberate hypothesis or it may begin with an observation from unexpected, haphazard events. But it always involves making predictions, considering all possible explanations, testing in a manner that can be duplicated, and tossing away explanations that don't fit the test results. It is a moving, growing, and constantly evolving process. This book began as a tool for children. It expanded to become a tool for everyone - no matter what their age. It is not a trivia game or a science textbook, nor does it explain everything about science. It does not replace classroom learning, hands-on experimentation, lessons learned at home, or life experience. It can be used as a fun game for adults, a guessing game for family entertainment, a springboard for a school project, or an assessment tool for science interest and literacy. Understanding science helps us to become more involved in the world around us. It helps us live better lives, ask better questions, and be better world citizens. Imagine a society where talking about science is as natural as talking about sports, movies, or current events Imagine a world where people discuss science as readily over the dinner table as they discuss politics. In fact, researchers tell us that people who have an enhanced knowledge of science feel they can make a difference in management and policy decisions, which leads to increased involvement in politics and political institutions. To care about science literacy is to care about ourselves, our communities, and our planet. Scientific literacy enables us all to make a positive difference in our world.

From the Back Cover:

Science affects everything - yet so many of us wish we understood it better. Using an accessible question-and-answer format, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science expands every reader's knowledge. Key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth, and general science are explored and demystified by an award-winning science writer and a seasoned educational trainer. Endorsed by science organizations and educators, this book is perfect for kids, grown-ups, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Science, Naturally!
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0967802059
• ISBN 13: 9780967802053
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160