The perception that scientists are intelligent white men who are socially inept, absent-minded nerds seems to prevail among students at all levels, from elementary school to college. While media may, by chance or choice, promote this image, it is unfortunately a realistic one. This stereotypical image of scientists as white men has, in part,…

This study examined some long-term impacts of a professional development program, Teachers in the Woods. Several outcomes of the program were acknowledged by participants as having been valuable: a network of like-minded teachers, a network of scientists and teachers, and an increase in teachers' ecological knowledge and field skills. The authors…

Although there have been numerous scientists-in-the-classroom initiatives in recent years, there is little research that documents whether or not these initiatives make an impact on students. This study examined 27 seventh-grade and 27 tenth-grade students' perceptions of scientists before and after a weeklong educational experience on…

The importance of ethical scientific practice to maintain the highest professional standards among graduating students and future scientists is presented as a case study to students. The exercise enhanced the awareness of the importance of ethics in the practice of science among students.

The purpose of this article is to explore the effects of organizational and work-group characteristics on the socialization of new scientists. It focuses on the experiences of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in science. The authors chose to look at outcomes that reflect behaviors (early productivity) and attitudes (willingness to share…

"How ScienceWorks" is now the focus of the national science specifications in English schools. This article is a brief introduction to the philosophy of science from the Greeks to the present day that underpins this notion. It consists of a brief summary of the contributions of nine philosophers and/or scientists to the debate: Aristotle, Roger…

An explicit goal of the current reform movement in science education is to promote scientific literacy in the United States. One way to encourage scientific literacy is to help students develop a better understanding of science subject matter, that is, the declarative knowledge specifically associated with the physical, life, and earth sciences.…

There are irreconcilable and contested positions taken around the definition and understanding of risk. The purpose of this chapter is to locate risk discourse more solidly in a social scientific framework by providing an historical analysis of literature dealing with risk drawing from the fields of risk assessment and, later, the social sciences…

Environmental scientists warn that the health of the planet is rapidly deteriorating, and the primary cause of the crisis is human behavior. Psychology can contribute greatly to understanding and changing behaviors that negatively impact global ecosystems; however, environmental issues are not generally included in psychology curricula, and…

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is a joint collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory. The CfA's research mission is the study of the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe. This 16-page booklet profiles women in the physical sciences or related fields; it…

This report presents a broad picture of the characteristics of scientists and engineers (S&Es) outside academia and how these characteristics changed between 1980 and 1990. Data for this report come primarily from National Science Foundation tabulations of 1980 and 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples of the decennial census. Around one-third of…

Choosing a career can be a time consuming and difficult task. This book is intended to serve as a reference for today's youths as they make decisions on their career goals and college education. The book contains descriptions of the various scientific and engineering fields and their associated requirements, guidance in college curriculum, and…

A biographical sketch of Robert Michels (1876-1936), a political sociologist and economist who taught in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the United States is presented. In his best known work, "Political Parties: A Sociological Study of Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy," he put forth his "iron law of oligarchy"…

Argues to revise the method in which science history is presented in science curriculum materials, particularly the view of women scientists. (CP)

Examines the scientific attitudes of a stratified sample of 684 tenth-grade students in Israeli schools. Compares these scores with those generated by a similar study in the United States. (CP)