Prize-winning scientist and bestselling author James Trefil explains why every U.S. citizen needs to be "scientifically literate" and, therefore, why schools must teach the fundamental principles of scientific literacy to every student. He lays out those principles straightforwardly, so that educators--and everyone who is interested in education--can understand exactly what they are. In this book, Trefil describes the woeful state of science knowledge today; explains why today's science education is insufficient for tomorrow's needs; tackles the key topics of "scientific literacy" and explains how to teach them; confronts headline issues, including stem cell research, global warming, cloning, and "intelligent design"; shows why science education is essential to an informed citizenry and how scientific literacy is achievable; and suggests a middle way between the two prevailing approaches to science education: "deep and narrow" vs. "broad but shallow."