by Carl E. Frahme, Ph.D

I would like to reflect here on the role of science in American society, and in particular, on the growing gulf between the few in our society that have a decent understanding of science and technology and the vast majority who truly do not. I have always had a special interest in education, especially technical education. In 1972 I was co-founder of Ceramic Correspondence Institute, now owned and operated by the American Ceramic Society. For several years I was a part time instructor at UCLA Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Today I am establishing on-line courses in ceramic technology. So it is with some level of pain and concern that I view the lack of scientific sophistication in this country.

If this is something that bothers you, and it should, you ought to pick up a copy of The Demon Haunted World by the late Carl Sagan. If you have read any of Sagan's books, you know he had a mission of making science clear and exciting to non-scientists and that he was an exceptionally brilliant writer.

A few excerts from the book will help set the tone.

"The consequences of scientific illiteracy are far more dangerous in our time than in any that has come before."

"The values of science and the values of democracy are concordant, in many cases indistinguishable... Science thrives on, indeed requires, the free exchange of ideas; its values are antithetical to secrecy. Science holds no special vantage points or privileged positions. Both science and democracy encourage unconventional opinions and vigorous debate. Both demand adequate reason, coherent argument, rigorous standards of evidence and honesty."

"We've arranged a global civilization in which most crucial elements- transportation, communications, and all other industries, agriculture, medicine, education, entertainment, protecting the environment, and even the key democratic institution of voting- profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster."

"The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites..."

Sagan decries the influence of pseudoscience in our society. "Science thrives on errors, cutting them away one by one. Hypotheses are framed so they are capable of being disproved. Science gropes and staggers toward improved understanding. Pseudoscience is just the opposite. Hypotheses are often framed precisely so the are invulnerable to any experiment that offers the prospect of disproof. Skeptical scrutiny is opposed." Much of what is presented as science on TV, one of our most influential media forms, is in fact pseudoscience. Unfortunately, most Americans are ill equipped to know the difference. Pseudoscience can be exciting and stimulating, but it imparts false information. Science is at least as stimulating, but it requires a higher level of effort and discipline.

One final quote from Sagan- "Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality."

What has this to do with ceramics?? Actually, quite a bit. Our industry's future is more and more tied to science and technology, just like most industries. We had better do our part to broaden our grasp of these fields, and to help broaden the understanding of all Americans. We need to start with our educational systems, in which science is so grossly mistaught, or not taught at all, as to be a national tragedy. At least, that's this man's opinion! I would welcome your comments!!