Explores the relationship between television viewing preferences and interest in science among 11- to 15-year olds (n=5432). After controlling for age, sex, and social class differences, the data demonstrate a negative relationship between attitude toward science and watching soap operas, a positive relationship with current awareness programs and…

Lists the awardees from the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program and relates the stories behind the inventions. (MM)

The National Science Foundation predicts that the United States will be unable to meet its future demand for scientists and engineers because student interest in science and math is waning. The goal of many community science programs is to increase the number of students majoring in science and to increase public science literacy.

Discusses the ASE-Wellcome Trust National Conference on Citizenship Education and Science. Explores some possible approaches to achieving citizenship education through the use of print media. Links with other issues in the forefront of current debates in science education, particularly scientific literacy. (Author/NB)

In this paper, I recall previous arguments for a hermeneutic approach to science and claim that such an approach necessitates attention to the development of dispositions. I undertake an analysis of Hans-Georg Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics to identify and describe dispositions relevant to a hermeneutic approach to science. I then apply…

This article presents several news stories about computers and technology. (1) Applied Science Associates of Narragansett, Rhode Island is providing computer modeling technology to help locate the remains to the USS Bonhomme Richard, which sank in 1779 after claiming a Revolutionary War victory. (2) Whyville, the leading edu-tainment virtual world…

A group of five graduate students and a faculty mentor used the cultural popularity of forensics to develop a first-year undergraduate seminar. This course fulfilled two main objectives: First, the graduate student instructors developed professionally through a two-year process of creating, instructing, and revising a course. Second, a variety of…

Demand for students with a solid foundation in science continues to grow. Also important, science education needs to ready citizens who do not pursue careers in science to handle dilemmas they will face in their lives, such as selecting treatments for diseases, evaluating messages about climate change, or using new technologies. Instruction that…

This study draws upon qualitative case study to investigate the connections between the "funds of knowledge" that urban, high-poverty students bring to science learning and the development of a sustained interest in science. We found that youth developed a sustained interest in science when: (1) their science experiences connected with how they…

Gender discrimination has contributed to the gender imbalance in scientific fields. However, research on the effects of informing adolescent girls about gender discrimination in these fields is rare and controversial. To examine the consequences of learning about gender-based occupational discrimination, adolescent girls (n= 158, ages 11 to 14)…

Students' views about science were correlated with their approaches to lab practice. Three distinct cases are discussed in detail: empiricist-oriented, rationalist-oriented, and constructivist-oriented students. A coherent epistemological theory was constructed for each case, by considering the different degrees of certainty and confidence each…

This study attempted to investigate whether affective differences existed among teachers and pupils relative to the science programs offered within their schools. The results of the study revealed that only a moderate degree of satisfaction exists among teachers and pupils toward their science programs. None of the programs, either commercially…

This report highlights the findings from research conducted to uncover what the nation's students think of the science education they are receiving, how they would improve it if they could, how they think they best learn science, and how they rate their parents and teachers when it comes to science. Data collection included an in-depth telephone…

This paper describes a Web site containing activities for chemistry that aid student learning. Used as an adjunct to the normal classroom and laboratory sessions, instructional goals of the Web site were to provide guidance and encourage regular and timely study. Initially learners were able to review the weekly objectives, see short explanations…

Describes a lesson in aerodynamics'' that involves construction and flying of kites. (SP)