[Chaos-l] Good video about science education

[Jon Stewart-Taylor]

Good video about science education, and specifically teaching about  
evolution, from Dr. Eugenie C. Scott's speech as the recipient of the  
first Stephen Jay Gould Prize:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h3EftcqfkQ&feature=player_embedded

Three highlights stood out to me:

Science only describes the material world, because science limits  
itself to what can be constrained, and thereby tested.  The  
supernatural can't be constrained, and therefore isn't subject to  
testing.

The idea that one shouldn't "believe" in science or science facts.   
"Belief" is for philosophies and religions.  One should accept that  
science is correct within our understanding of the natural world as  
verified by controlled tests.

Science consists of three areas: The Core, which has been verified  
repeatedly through testing; The Frontier, where theories are  
investigated, and the Fringe, where new ideas that may become theories  
are found.  Things can move between these three areas as theories are  
confirmed or disproved.

It's a long video (about an hour), but definitely worth listening too.

J.
-- 
Jon Stewart-Taylor:  joncst at earthlink.net
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