Is There An Assault on Science?
Yesterday, I wrote a brief post introducing a new book by Shawn Otto entitled Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America. For the past four years, Otto has co-led Sciencedebate.org, a grassroots organization that has tried to influence the 2008 and the 2012 presidential elections. The goal is to sponsor nonpartisan debates among candidates for the office of President of the United States.… Read more
NASA’s STS-135 mission of the Space Shuttle lifted off its pad in Florida successfully, today, July 8, 2011. More than a million people were there to witness the liftoff.
Here is a video I made of the launch and commentary.
Yesterday, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) published an open letter on its website with the headline: AAAS Board: Attacks on Climate Researchers Inhibit Free Exchange of Scientific Ideas. In the letter, the Board said:
Scientists and policymakers may disagree over the scientific conclusions on climate change and other policy-relevant topics. But the scientific community has proven and well-established methods for resolving disagreements about research results.
NASA scientists, of Project LCROSS, have reported that there is water in one of the moon’s craters, and that there is more water in this crater than there is in the Sahara Desert. The water, in the form of ice crystals, makes up about 5 – 8% of the crater’s mixture. According to NASA, 8 wheelbarrows of soil could yield 10 to 13 gallons of water.… Read more
NASA, created by Congress and President Eisenhower on October 1, 1958, has played an important role in the hearts and minds teachers and their students. Although originally created as a national defense strategy, NASA’s space exploration missions have effectively inspired generations of people, not only in the U.S., but around the world.
I wanted to write about the recent announcements from NASA and the White House about the effect of the fiscal 2010 Federal Budget, and the implications for NASA.… Read more
I received note from Jake Johnson, outreach coordinator, the Internet Archive Outreach, NASA images asking to mention a resource for teaching at the NASA Images website.
I think you will find this site a powerful aid for teaching.
Here are some examples:
NASA’s latest spacecraft, Kepler lifted off into a solar orbit but in a region close to earth. It’s mission over the next 3 1/2 years is look for Earth-like planets by using a photometer that is very sensitive to variation in the light intensity emitted from stars. According to Kepler project scientists on a NASA video , the goal of the project is to search the habitable zone, where they think there is water.… Read more
The Art of Teaching Science is the personal blog of Jack Hassard. I am a writer, a former high school science teacher and Professor Emeritus of Science Education, Georgia State University. The blog reflects my opinions on science education and issues related to educational reform from a progressive science and education philosophy.
