Sir, – Dick Ahlstrom asks how do we instil a better public understanding of science? ("General public needs to up its understanding of science", August 17th). He points to a report from Prof Hazelkorn at DIT who argues that people have "a responsibility to understand these issues".
I would add that science must broaden its access to generate conversation and debate.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science says for the public to truly reap the benefits of science people must acquire “scientific habits or mind”. These habits are crucial.
Whilst the great leaps forward that science has enabled amaze us, the really amazing truth about science is the way it works (and less so the technology it leads to). We must do more to give citizens access to this scientific process. Seeing how it works may allow many to develop the desired habits. This would be quite a change from promoting science as just a body of completed facts.
The vast majority of scientists will tell you global warming is real and we are causing it. A small minority disagree. Thinking about the process they use to come to such conclusions is, perhaps, far more empowering for citizens who don’t know who to believe.
– Yours, etc,
Dr SHANE BERGIN
School of Physics,
Trinity College Dublin.