Colloquium
Wella Msimanga
More than 30% of adults have never studied mathematics at school, 50% have never studied biological sciences and 55% have never studied physical and chemical science. This emerges from an article in a recent issue of the South African Journal of Science.
The level of public understanding of science in South Africa is very low, conclude the writers, William Blankley and Robyn Arnold. They argue that since science and technology policy formulation is subject to democratic process in most countries, including South Africa, citizens should be sufficiently knowledgeable about science matters to be able to make informed decisions about major issues in science, health and technology.
This would promote better public understanding of the multibillion-rand investment of their taxes in research and development. Civic scientific literacy is the issue here a level of understanding of scientific terms and constructs sufficient to read a daily newspaper or magazine and to understand the essence of competing arguments on a given dispute or controversy. It is fundamental to healthy democratic systems that a significant number of citizens possess civic scientific literacy.
South Africa’s expenditure on research and development (R&D) in 1997 was 0,69% of gross domestic product, according to the article. Of this, approximately 39% comes directly from state coffers. This is a considerable sum, and “the country therefore needs a citizenry that can consider the competing claims on these funds, weigh up the expected returns on investment, consider associated ethical and moral issues, and ensure that the funds are invested wisely for the benefit of all South Africans”.
The authors contend that South Africa needs citizens who are so convinced of the benefits of science and technology that they will “escalate science policy on the national agenda and lobby for greater investment in R&D, in order to increase local standards of living and to prevent South Africa from falling behind its trade competitors”.
The extent of expenditure on R&D is as important as policies on R&D in determining the competitiveness of successful countries, the article suggests.
The current low levels of understanding of science pose the danger that public debates on issues such as HIV/Aids, nuclear power or genetically modified organisms, may be guided, even swayed, by those with their own agendas.
Blankley and Arnold argue that appropriate intervention strategies are necessary to remedy this situation. They observe that experience in other countries has shown that the most profound impact on the levels of public understanding of science is made when science and mathematics teaching at school and in higher education is improved. But in South Africa, to concentrate all efforts at primary, secondary and tertiary education levels would be to exclude most adult citizens from participation in the democratic process surrounding research and development investment.
“Ways have to be found to increase levels of understanding of science among the large cohort of adults who suffered under apartheid or boycotted apartheid education; and using mass media might be an effective way of developing such understanding, given the levels of interest in science among the target groups.”
The survey indicates that it is Africans, coloureds and Indians, particularly those over the age of 35 and those in the lower income brackets, who constitute the target group.
In the United States television is the leading source of information about new developments in science and technology, followed by books and newspapers. In South Africa patterns of media usage are different.
“Radio, particularly African language radio, is altogether the most far-reaching of the mass media, and thus recommends itself for use in public understanding interventions. It is affordable and within reach of almost every member of the target audience …
“Whatever means communicators and policymakers choose to promote the public understanding of science and technology among the public, care and forethought are needed where levels of conceptual development regarding science appear to be low.”
Wella Msimanga last year completed majors in biochemistry and microbiology towards his BSc at Wits University. Unable to pay fees this year, he hopes to complete his degree next year. A veteran of small, Marxist, revolutionary groups in Johannesburg, he wants to become a scientist
The details
Colloquium is a regular column in the Mail & Guardian education supplements. Students in particular, but staff as well, are welcome to write about any aspects of campus life or education more broadly. Contact the editor of the supplements, David Macfarlane: tel (011) 727-7000; fax (011) 727-7111; e-mail [email protected]