SCIENTIFIC LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT

摘要

In the future, the competitiveness and well being of a nation will depend largely on the ability of its population to use scientific knowledge, and on the level of their scientific thinking. Therefore, improving general awareness of science among people is important for our long-term and sustainable development. With a view to identify a certain level of scientific and technological literacy, we have to bench mark the desired level of understanding of S&T available around a particular sect of society. This bench marking can be different from area to area and community to community, based on the general level of awareness of the people. Accordingly, to reach to a certain level of S&T literacy in a given area or community, the efforts of S&T communication may be concentrated to fill the void. When a certain level is achieved, then it would almost automatic that societal understanding and inception of S&T, changes to those at the higher levels. This is the natural way to enhance scientific and technological literacy to make any society technologically strong and scientifically enlightened.