As a scientist, I am often disturbed by the igonorance or general lack of understanding of what we do as scientists. This is especially telling in situatuons like science education. Here's a great essay in the New York Times today regarding this topic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/science/sciencespecial2/15essa.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=login
(Regsitration required, free)
Rb
Thanks for the information
Yeah its a bit of an eye opener
Rb
check out www.tryengineering.org
Very interesting
A lot of education at the middle school to highschool level doesn't quite keep up with the technology. I understand the basics are needed as a base for higher level molecular/cellular biology, for example. Standardized testing and a lack of more specific 'major' type classes or topics don't seem to sustain interest in the the sciences.