TechIntersect

Just listened to an interesting discussion on Pluto and science literacy. Anytime someone mentions Pluto, my ears perk up because of its discovery by Kansas-born science legend Clyde Tombaugh.

The podcast I heard is an NPR interview with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and if you don’t have time for the entire thing, I will share a few quotes here:

In the 21st century, there is no greater engine of economic growth than innovations in science and technology. If we don’t understand that the rest of the developing world certainly does. That’s how they are investing their money. We can keep telling ourselve that we are leaders in the world, and that works until everyone else passes us and we just recede to insignificance.

and

The more science literate you are, the less susceptible you might be to someone trying to take advantage of your ignorance.

According to Tyson, better math literacy could have prevented predatory lending that helped create the sub-prime mortgage debacle. People with a better understanding of math could have avoided being taken advantage of.

Another observation from the podcast I appreciated and share his point of view with is this:

It’s easy to blame problems on other systemic issues of society when it could have just simply been avoided.

I am more than a little concerned when I think about how the US has historically been a world leader in science and technology, but we seem to be somewhat unwilling to make a commitment to sustaining our leadership role in these areas. Vinton Cerf says that global warming is the new Sputnik, but so far it has not captured the hearts and minds of Americans in the way that Sputnik did.

One of my all-time favorite books about economics is “Unlimited Wealth” by Paul Zane Pilzer. In it he describes an economic alchemy by which wealth is created through the use of technology. New and innovative uses of technology improve productivity and thereby increase wealth. If, as Mr. Pilzer suggests, technology is the key to “unlimited wealth” then it seems to me that we ignore the importance of science & technology at our peril.

I’m getting ready to spend a little time in the Eisenhower Museum to research the post-Sputnik National Defense Education Act of 1958. (I’m taking an Education History Class, and the subject interests me.) According to Wikipedia, the NDEA was enacted because the launch of Sputnik “shook the American belief that the USA was superior in Math and Science to all other countries.” I wonder if America still has a similar concern about Math & Science, or if it even cares anymore?

In The World is Flat Thomas Friedman writes

In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears.  In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears – and that is our problem.

Michael Wesch (aka the YouTube Professor) is trying to discover the root causes of American fascination with celebrity and has launched The Anonymity Project. I think the research is interesting and expect it will shed some light on the subject.

I agree with Friedman. Science & technology simply don’t have the rock-star attraction that popular culture has in this country. But I’m finding that some people are interested, and do pay attention when the topic arises so I’m doing what I can within my circle of influence to get people to change their thinking.

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