This page often focuses on the fascinating science featured inside the magazine, but this month I also want to tell you about what we are doing for science outside of our pages.

As a Scientific American reader, you are most likely concerned about the sliding performance of U.S. students in science and math. Fostering learning in general is important, of course. (For more on that, see “Hearing the Music, Honing the Mind,” Science Agenda.) But as President Barack Obama put it in September: “Our nation’s success depends on strengthening America’s role as the engine of discovery and innovation.”

Toward that end, Nature Publishing Group (NPG), Scientific American’s parent company, has joined Change the Equation, part of the White House’s Educate to Innovate efforts to boost teaching in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). NPG’s Bridge to Science activities include Scitable learning guides, teacher training, and development of a model for understanding science education’s return on investment. And in early 2011 look for these programs from Scientific American:

Bring Science Home. As a mom of two school-age daughters who think science is cool, I know the vital role parents play in cultivating a love of the subject. So each day for a month www.ScientificAmerican.com will offer simple experiments that parents and kids can do together at home.

Citizen Science. We plan a digital plat­form, including a Web site page and apps, for parents and kids to learn about and participate in ongoing scientific research.

1,000 Scientists in 1,000 Days. We will recruit researchers to volunteer time in the classroom or to participate in activities such as National Lab Day.

A different kind of instruction takes place at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in Germany, but it, too, has a profound effect on the future of science. Laureates share wisdom with young scientists in talks and casual conversation. I blogged from the 60th anniversary meeting, and now you can see more in videos on www.ScientificAmerican.com.

Last, this issue itself is rife with mind-expanding opportunities for students, scientists and nonscientists alike. Just to name two, see “Dark Worlds,” by Jonathan Feng and Mark Trodden, for an armchair journey into the invisible universe. And “Climate Heretic,” by Michael D. Lemonick, offers a challenging but important lesson about keeping lines of communication—and minds—open while discussing climate science.

This article was originally published with the title Teachable Moment.

4 Comments

1. 1. HenriSuyd 10:57 PM 10/22/10

   Comment on "Climate Heretic" article in Nov 2010 issue.
   
   1. Congratulations to Judith Curry for speaking her mind on climate uncertainties. She is right, against the proverbial "conventional wisdom" of the IPPC and its stubburn believers.
   
   2. Why doesn't Scientific American have similar interviews with men like Richard Lindzen, Patrick Michaels, Robert Balling, Ross McKitrick, just to name a few.
   
   3. To state that "the public needs to understand scientific uncertainty is not the same as ignorance" makes the implicit assumption that the climate change messengers are right, which is very much in serious question, for many reasons.
   
   4. That "climate scientists need to do a better job of communicating uncertainty" is proof that their science is on shaky grounds, to put it mildly. I happen to have a strong scientific background, and have ALWAYS been unconvinced ever since I began listening to the worst messenger of climate catastrophy, Al Gore, several years ago.
   
   5. I am happy that SciAm Magazine is finally giving the "opposition" a chance to be heard. Get in touch with the people I mentioned and report on it, and who knows, the world eventually may become a better place to live! Remember, Honesty is the best policy, it will bring out the truth.
   
   Henri Suyderhoud

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2. 2. GaryWein 05:27 PM 12/7/10

   Hi,
   
   I was pleased to read about your initiative of Bringing Science Home.
   Regretfully, I have attempted to followed-up on this project online but have failed to find any links or references to the experiments.
   This being such a unique and important project, I would expect it to be readily accessible on your home page.
   I am still interested to read about the experiments and would appreciate anyone's assistance in refering them to me.
   Thanks in advance,
   
   Gary.

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3. 3. mdichristina 09:27 AM 12/28/10

   Gary, I should have made the timing of Bring Science Home clearer--my apologies. We will start running the series in the new year, before the end of the first quarter. We'll definitely promote it when we do.

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4. 4. GaryWein 05:27 PM 12/29/10

   Thanks a lot for your reply - I highly appreciate you taking the time to address my query!
   I will keep a look out for the series through the promotions. I'll get my two doughters ready too...
   
   Gary.
   

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