Can Al Gore, Sally Ride and the MythBusters Save Science Education?

by Carol Scott · 2010-11-15 06:03:00 -0800
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Former Vice President Al Gore is throwing his hat into the ring to call attention to another pressing problem: the need for quality math, science, technology and engineering education.

At noon EST this Wednesday, he'll join astronaut Sally Ride, Jamie and Adam from the Discovery Channel's MythBusters and inventor Dean Kamen in a live webcast for students, encouraging them to think more about science and how it fits into life post-graduation. The virtual "town hall" will also connect students with kids in other countries to compare notes on how science is perceived and taught around the world.

When it comes to science knowledge, U.S. students aren't at the top of the class. A 2006 study found that American students were 21st out of 30 in science literacy among developed countries. (They were 25th out of 30 in math literacy.)

The need for better science and math education is something President Obama has been stressing lately. He recently announced a new nonprofit initiative called Change the Equation. Part of the group's goals, CEO Linda Rosen says, is to fix current misunderstandings about the importance of understanding math and science.

"It's socially acceptable in our culture to say, 'I can't do math,'" Rosen told the Christian Science Monitor recently. The group is trying to show students that science encompasses more than just lab coats and test tubes - it can involve animals, sports, space and history.

GOOD reports that students in Wisconsin and elsewhere will be tuning in via online viewing parties. An educator's guide tells teachers and students how to submit questions online via the Twitter hashtag #FutureOfOurNation. Afterwards, some teachers will invite panelists to school to talk about their careers in math and science, and there's a pledge supporters can fill out to promise to help children connect more to the sciences via afterschool programs and mentoring.

Will Al Gore's star power pull this issue into the limelight?

For more information about the webcast, go to the Connect A Million Minds website.

Photo credit: kangotraveler via Flickr

Carol Scott is the Education Editor for Change.org.
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