Discusses the importance of implementing new approaches in science teaching which will elevate citizen concerns to science-related issues confronting society. Outlines a biology application course designed to counteract current problems in this area. (RT)

Investigates the attitudes of high school students (grades 11 and 12) toward physics and physics teaching including reasons for taking or not taking physics and reasons for considering or not considering a career in physics teaching. Provides frequency tables of responses to the questions. (YP)

Describes the effects upon the attitude and achievement of a group of below average sixth grade readers generated by enriching the language arts curriculum from a literature base to a science base. Results indicate that attitude did not improve overall, but the achievement measure increased for 12 of the 17 students. The attitude survey is…

A study concurrently identified significant relationships between the attitudes of high school students toward nuclear energy, environmental issues, energy concepts, science concepts, space exploration, and metrication topical areas. Surveys indicated there were significant concurrent attitudinal relationships between specific science-related…

A study examined whether factors that differentiate science and nonscience majors translate into meaningful predictors of majoring in science. Questionnaires were administered to 121 science majors and 160 social science majors at a Canadian university. Only 7 of the 12 factors that differentiated science and social science majors were important…

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a middle school epidemiology curriculum called Detectives in the Classroom. The curriculum presents epidemiology as the science of public health, using health-related issues that capture the interest of young students and help prepare them to make evidence-based health-related decisions.…

A series of eight videoconferences was designed to help educational professionals improve schools by applying knowledge gained from research. During the videoconference programs, which are transmitted by satellite to facilities with receiving capacity, viewers can interact by telephone with the program presenters. Each program covers a specific…

Recent developments in science and technology challenge educators to develop career education approaches that promote interest in scientific and technological career options among students. One way to meet this challenge is for educators to understand variables that may influence the career development of students with focused or developed…

Because of the changes occurring in the chemical sciences, a new survey of chemistry and its intellectual and economic impact was clearly needed. This report presents a current assessment of the status of chemistry and of the future opportunities in the field. This analysis contains: (1) an introductory chapter (establishing the need for the…

This study investigated the potential influence of female science teachers as sex role models for eighth-grade girls' science and engineering (SE) career interests. Subjects were 30 eighth-grade science teachers (14 men and 16 women) and their 1,937 eighth-grade students (992 girls and 945 boys). Using an SE career interest survey (CIS) developed…

This study sought to determine: (1) whether eighth-grade science teachers serve as sex role models and therefore enhance eighth-grade students' science and engineering (SE) career interests; and (2) if the SE career interests of eighth-grade girls are related to the sex and selected teacher effectiveness characteristics of their eighth-grade…

The purpose of this study was to determin the effects of an individualized instruction approach and a teacher centered approach on student achievement of science content and problem solving skills, science interest, and self concept. Eighty-one fifth grade pupils were divided into three classes of 27 each: a teacher-centered active control group,…

Explains ways three chemists use college courses, evening lectures, and television and radio programs to educate the public about the importance of chemistry. Indicates that exposure to the fundamentals of chemistry in the early grades may have a significant effect on changing the public's attitudes toward chemistry. (RT)

Discusses the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment (1987) and the findings of the British Antarctic Survey (1985). Proposes two theories for the appearance of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica which appears each spring; air pollution and natural atmospheric shifts. Illustrates the mechanics of both. Supports worldwide chlorofluorocarbon…

Problem-based learning (PBL) has great potential for inspiring K-12 learning. KaAMS, a NASA funded project and an example of PBL, was designed to help teachers inspire middle school students to learn science. The students participate as scientists investigating environmental problems using NASA airborne remote sensing data. Two PBL modules were…