Study: Most American Adults Flunk Basic Science
Most of us would be hard-pressed to remember the stuff we learned in school. The percentage of information retained is depressingly low, but that’s what happens when the knowledge isn’t required day to day.
A new national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences and conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that the U.S. public is unable to pass even a basic scientific literacy test.
According to the national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences:
- Only 53 percent of adults know how long it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun.
- Only 59 percent of adults know that the earliest humans and dinosaurs did not live at the same time.
- Only 47 percent of adults can roughly approximate the percent of the Earth’s surface that is covered with water.
- Only 21 percent of adults answered all three questions correctly.
”There has never been a greater need for investment in scientific research and education,” said Academy Executive Director Dr. Gregory Farrington. ”Many of the most pressing issues of our time—from global climate change to resource management and disease—can only be addressed with the help of science.”
The survey was conducted by telephone within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the California Academy of Sciences between December 17 and December 21, 2008 among 1,002 adults ages 18 and up.
The press release sent out by the Academy poses that rather than spending on economic bailout plans, which is referred to as a "short term solution," the U.S. government should "transition to a more knowledge-based economy, including a focus on science, which is now widely recognized as a major driver of innovation and industry."
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Let's talk geography while we're at it. How many Americans can point out all 50 states? That number is depressingly low.
BTW yes I still remember all this crap and I've been out of HS for 15 years.
This one makes some amount of sense, as it's not as important as knowing how long a year is.
What are you talking about? God created Dinosaurs in the same day he created Adam and Eve. Of course Dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.
I think this information is great for children during their formative years to spark interest in a certain field or subject, but beyond that, people usually only remember what is necessary.
We don't all need to be polymaths.
Alls I needs to know about scienctology is written in the bible. It's the word of Jesus and his twelve disciples. Santa, the Easter Bunny, the first pope, adam, eve, peter, paul, and mary, puff the magic dragon, sinbad (the pirate, not the comedian, I ain't stupid), Gargamel, and Judas Preist.
Seriously though, i think religion and the teaching of creationism is partially at fault for this.
What are you talking about? God created Dinosaurs in the same day he created Adam and Eve. Of course Dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.
Hilarious! But this is the problem. The United States has fallen in love with Christianity and has started pushing science out of our classrooms. These numbers (and the outlook for this country) will only get worse. You'd think that nobody had read about the Great Roman Empire!
What's really sad is that there is a really big standard deviation when it comes to these statistics. (Sidenote: only 9% of Americans know what that sentence even means.)
It's a misnomer to see this and conclude that "the US needs to transition to a knowledge based economy". Guess what? We are already there, and as usual there are haves and have-nots. Almost everyone I willingly interact with on a daily basis (not including store clerks, gas station attendants, etc) can recall the answers to those 3 questions without blinking. I wouldn't doubt that the people who can answer all three questions are, by significant proportion, dramatically more successful than those that cannot.
If anything, the US (along with the rest of the world) could use more equality in education.
Alls I needs to know about scienctology is written in the bible. It's the word of Jesus and his twelve disciples. Santa, the Easter Bunny, the first pope, adam, eve, peter, paul, and mary, puff the magic dragon, sinbad (the pirate, not the comedian, I ain't stupid), Gargamel, and Judas Preist.Seriously though, i think religion and the teaching of creationism is partially at fault for this.
Gotta disagree here. Let's not scapegoat religion for the failure of our educational system here. It's a bad system that lets people slip through because like everything else, people figure everything will work out in the end so they don't try. How many HS grads can pass the GED? Not many.
You know what happens in some countries if you're not in the top of the class? You work in camps and factories. Not saying it's right, but if there were consequences like that, these stats wouldn't be like this.
This one makes some amount of sense, as it's not as important as knowing how long a year is.What are you talking about? God created Dinosaurs in the same day he created Adam and Eve. Of course Dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.I think this information is great for children during their formative years to spark interest in a certain field or subject, but beyond that, people usually only remember what is necessary.We don't all need to be polymaths.
Here's someone who has his head on straight. I dont care who or what science institute, text book publisher, or theorist decides what the 'mass' should learn, but carbon dating itself is based on theory. To base facts like "Only 59 percent of adults know that the earliest humans and dinosaurs did not live at the same time." off of theory is just absured, and it's exactly why 400 years ago we still thought the earth was flat.
Based on some of the most accurately recorded information since the begining of time, The world is roughly 33-34 thousand years old. But unfortunately, we dont know how long the calander period was in certain dates, so that could be a literal dating, or somewhere in the field of hundreds of thousands to millions, greatly depending on how much life changed after the shortened lifespan of humans and then the great flood. So to assume that dinosaurs came first just because they have more carbon buildup on their fossilized bones just makes an ass out of yourself, and every one you teach it to. Infact, in the greek and hebrew texts of biblical works, creatures are referenced that translate to something that could only be dinosaurs or large lizard-like creatures.
Not to mention the fact that this survey was taken in California, which has proven to be the largest marajuana smoking state in the country.
Hilarious! But this is the problem. The United States has fallen in love with Christianity and has started pushing science out of our classrooms. These numbers (and the outlook for this country) will only get worse.
Look up "Kent Hovind". That guy pisses me off so much, with his pseudo-scientific lectures. He attempts to dispel scientific theories that he obviously doesn't understand. He's spreading his ignorance to the ignorant.
I suppose educating people on the actual processes that go into these theories would be the best method. But it's extremely difficult to tell a creationist that their understanding of Evolution is incorrect.
You'd think that nobody had read about the Great Roman Empire!
But they killed Jesus!
This is a basic problem with HOW we teach people, not necessarily what we teach them. I bet the biggest issue with the Sun-Earth question was that people didn't know what it meant for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. I'm sure most people know roughly how long a year is. People aren't taught to think, just respond. They never understood WHY a year is 365 days (hint: because it takes that long for the earth to revolve around the sun).
But they killed Jesus!
Lol, they didn't just kill Christ, they did exactly what was prophesied for thousands of years without ever realizing it.
This is a basic problem with HOW we teach people, not necessarily what we teach them. I bet the biggest issue with the Sun-Earth question was that people didn't know what it meant for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. I'm sure most people know roughly how long a year is. People aren't taught to think, just respond. They never understood WHY a year is 365 days (hint: because it takes that long for the earth to revolve around the sun).
I think you just hit the nail on the head there. I agree with that exactly.
I am Canadian; as such I’m ignorant to your teaching practices and cannot pass a fair judgment.
Before reading on please note I’m not stereotyping, there are millions of acceptations I am sure. Also, I am fully aware what I’m going to say is not Science; it is Social Studies and/or Geography…
Many times I have travelled to the USA at which time I have taken notice of how little you guys know about other countries… In particular I am referring to Canada. Many Americans I spoke with thought we live in igloos!! Almost no one knows where Edmonton is (where I live), but I mean they have no clue, not even an approximate.
In Canada we learn about all countries not just Canada. I bet I could name almost all your states and Capitals. I would bet I know 90% and when reminded ill remember the other 10%. How many provinces, capitals do you know of your neighboring country(s)?
It is VERY important to realize I’m not criticizing any Americans; this is simply an observation I have made from my experiences.
Basically, most American adults are idiots.
I am Canadian; as such I’m ignorant to your teaching practices and cannot pass a fair judgment.Before reading on please note I’m not stereotyping, there are millions of acceptations I am sure. Also, I am fully aware what I’m going to say is not Science; it is Social Studies and/or Geography…Many times I have travelled to the USA at which time I have taken notice of how little you guys know about other countries… In particular I am referring to Canada. Many Americans I spoke with thought we live in igloos!! Almost no one knows where Edmonton is (where I live), but I mean they have no clue, not even an approximate. In Canada we learn about all countries not just Canada. I bet I could name almost all your states and Capitals. I would bet I know 90% and when reminded ill remember the other 10%. How many provinces, capitals do you know of your neighboring country(s)?It is VERY important to realize I’m not criticizing any Americans; this is simply an observation I have made from my experiences.
From what I remember in Highschool, we didnt have to learn a single thing about canada, or most other countries. We basically learned america (and not that well), and then any of the countries that we've been in war with (again, not well at all.)
It is VERY important to realize I’m not criticizing any Americans; this is simply an observation I have made from my experiences.
I would second that observation, being from the USA myself. However, as a Canadian, how much do you know about Mexico? or any other country for that matter?
I'd guess you know more about the USA than you do about other foreign nations, and not just because we're your closest neighbor. The fact of the matter is, not only do we have a huge amount of influence on the world as a whole, but out media perpetuates all of the large English speaking markets.
People from the USA ("American" is a misnomer as America spans 2 continents) don't really have any need to learn about Canada because Canada's influence on us isn't as large as ours on them. Mexico has a larger influence on us than Canada does, and even then most people don't know that Mexico is actually The United Mexican States and consists of 32 states.
From what I remember in Highschool, we didnt have to learn a single thing about canada, or most other countries. We basically learned america (and not that well), and then any of the countries that we've been in war with (again, not well at all.)
Thats my point....
100% agree with hellwig. People think too little and "just do" too much. For some reason, labeling the unknown with ignorance is a perfectly good alternative to learning something new.
From what I remember in Highschool, we didnt have to learn a single thing about canada, or most other countries. We basically learned america (and not that well), and then any of the countries that we've been in war with (again, not well at all.)
Maybe there is an age difference issue between you and me, but I remember learning about the Celts and the Franks, about the Industrial Revolution in Europe, and about the imperialism in Africa just for example.
And I later dropped out of Highschool after 2 years.
I would second that observation, being from the USA myself. However, as a Canadian, how much do you know about Mexico? or any other country for that matter?I'd guess you know more about the USA than you do about other foreign nations, and not just because we're your closest neighbor. The fact of the matter is, not only do we have a huge amount of influence on the world as a whole, but out media perpetuates all of the large English speaking markets.People from the USA ("American" is a misnomer as America spans 2 continents) don't really have any need to learn about Canada because Canada's influence on us isn't as large as ours on them. Mexico has a larger influence on us than Canada does, and even then most people don't know that Mexico is actually The United Mexican States and consists of 32 states.
I agree, in Canada we learn more about USA than any other foreign country. I am sure due to your countries stature as well as you are our only neighbor. However we do spend considerable time learning about the rest of the world as well.
I think one of your main problems you just stated inadvertently.
“”don't really have any need to learn about Canada because Canada's influence on us isn't as large as ours on them.””
Why would a person NEED to know if people and dinosaurs lived at the same time?
curnel_d, you are obnoxiously stupid. Jesus christ, the fundies will be the end of us all.
However we do spend considerable time learning about the rest of the world as well.I think one of your main problems you just stated inadvertently.“”don't really have any need to learn about Canada because Canada's influence on us isn't as large as ours on them.””Why would a person NEED to know if people and dinosaurs lived at the same time?
You make a good point.
But, as someone who was in the American school system in this decade, I know I learned a great deal about other countries, Canada included in that. However, we learned very little about the current states of all of those countries, and more about their formations, and their histories on a large scale.
and this is why i believe in population control
How many HS grads can pass the GED? Not many.You know what happens in some countries if you're not in the top of the class? You work in camps and factories. Not saying it's right, but if there were consequences like that, these stats wouldn't be like this.
Well a survey conducted where I live put about 35% of students with a B or a C average pass the GED test. However, I have little faith in our school system. I never took school seriously after about the 7th grade as I found we weren't learning ANYTHING but Math after that. I pretty much failed every class in HS, except math. Then I dropped out my junior year and 6 months later averaged a 93% on the GED test.
This just adds to what Hellwig said:
We are zombifying our youth by teaching everyone the same thing over and over while just changing how it's taught as we go along. I may just be an anomaly where I live but still, our school system flat out stinks.
[citation][nom]curnel_d[/nom] Based on some of the most accurately recorded information since the begining of time, The world is roughly 33-34 thousand years old. [citation]
Based on paper published on Nature on March 12, 2009, "Classic Homo erectus (scientists believe it is one of the human ancestors) fossils in Zhoukoudian caves are more than 700,000 years old." these date was determinded by a very new method: "The new dates are based on the effects of cosmic rays on aluminium and beryllium isotopes in miniscule quartz grains" "The aluminium/beryllium technique offers new opportunities for re-dating other palaeoanthropology locations, where ... the age of sites is difficult to determine because of the lack of more easily dateable volcanic ash. The method works for samples up to at least 3 million years old."
I am wondering how old the dinosaurs will be by this new method.
Source: Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/2009/09 [...] 49.html#B1
Original paper: Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journ [...] 07741.html
BTW this issue of Nature also contains the original paper about the "Battery materials for ultrafast charging and discharging": http://www.nature.com/nature/journ [...] 07853.html
@pharge, you do know he was kidding right?
@pharge, you do know he was kidding right?
I know...
Just happen to browse through the article... so.. thought that information may be useful. (in case if somebody misunderstand it
This is a basic problem with HOW we teach people, not necessarily what we teach them. I bet the biggest issue with the Sun-Earth question was that people didn't know what it meant for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. I'm sure most people know roughly how long a year is. People aren't taught to think, just respond. They never understood WHY a year is 365 days (hint: because it takes that long for the earth to revolve around the sun).
Apparently you've never been to a Museum. I've remember covering the planet multiple times in school. Hell, one of the things synonymous with school projects is models of the planets. The fact is, most people don't remember that because it doesn't come up often. I remember that, because I have conversations about astrophysics every now and then.
I don't think science expenditures should be increased at the federal level. Science is the biggest waste of money I can imagine. For the amount of inventions and discoveries that are worth a damn, there are 1000 more that aren't.
By making science a private sectored investment, you would have scientists working on useful applications to produce something of profit rather then curiosity. Why do we need to know what noise was made during the big bang? When it comes to innovation and industrial growth in regards to science, it came from private companies.
Technically, you would get it wrong if you said it takes the Earth 365 days to revolve around the Sun. Its actually around 365.24 days.
Oh I know what the blame! CREATIONISM! But deep in the surface, it's really religion.
My book says the universe 6 days, and we were created in the image of god (even though god is suppose to be immaterial.....), etc. is the problem.
I'm glad I have a love of science, hopefully my generation. I'm 20 btw, will not be like this in the future.
Oh and by generation I really meant my generation and future ones.
Sigh, it appears there are people on here who are a example of the failing education system, which is the real problem, Take, curnel_d for example.
400 years ago we thought the world was flat? Um... NO. Even the Ancient Greeks knew it wasn't, and one,Eratosthenes, figured the circumference to 1% of it's actual size. And I really hope you are joking about the worlds age, and the global flood....