Armageddon Science: The Science of Mass Destruction
Science has an essential role in society and civilization, and unfortunately, as this book illustrates, a great potential to end both. However, in using this book to teach students my focus would not be on the devastation of humanity, but rather on the prevention of this possible occurrence by taking precautions mentioned within the book and also by alerting ourselves of the possibilities and technologies inherent within the study of science. Due to the intimate relationship between science and society, we as social studies teachers should elaborate on and explain the great world of science to our students because it falls within the realm of the social studies in that it expands with society. Students need to understand the newest technological sciences in the same way that they need to be literate in multiple medias. It is a growing aspect of knowledge that one needs to be able to master in order to fully comprehend the world around us, even if that is to understand how the world could potentially end. The more we know on the subject matter the more we can do to prevent its happening. Also this topic, of world devastation, can breed many learning routes within the social studies, like the importance of international diplomacy, foreign policy, geography, psychology, epidemics, and the list goes on and on. This book was a very interesting read and has a mass appeal to facilitating several academic debates in the social studies that would be invaluable in a classroom.
From the weekly questions I like the one about the perspective of today's "mad scientists" who is usually employed or encouraged by governments or large corporations rather than being isolated, like a Dr. Frankenstein. To me it seems that since the scientists are prodded along toward discovery by governments and companies that there may no longer be a "mad scientists," but rather a "mad employer" whether that be a government or a company. In the government's case, or most specifically the military's, it seems that there is no greater goal than defending the nation at any and all expense. They want scientists to keep them ahead of the game, even if it seems that diplomacy will never let nuclear or biological war happen. As for the companies it boils down to money, which we previously saw in All the Devils are Here. They employ the scientists to make the newest drug or the fastest processor or whatever so that they can distribute it throughout the world with the sole aim of making money rather than spreading a mutual benefit. In this way they are looking for the next big invention and pushing scientist to create rather than the "mad scientist" working on their own accord in utter isolation.
Joe, I completely agree with everything you have said in this post!! Science plays a HUGE role in society and, like Dustin said that the end of the discussion, it is important that we discuss it in our classrooms! I agree that students may not be literate in this area; we as educators should strive to show them the importance of it. Social studies gives us this platform and I could see discussion of this topic of science happen in many different courses, classrooms, and subjects. As for your mad "employers" comment, that is exactly what I was saying in the discussion. Our national defense is having the biggest, baddest missile available so that the world knows not to mess with the U.S. When someone makes us mad, our missile will point to them. We get upset when countries around the world (Iraq, N. Korea) take on these tasks themselves or show off that they are trying to create a WMD... but don't you think we've set a precedent? We are power hungry... everyone is! Oh, how this relates to our history as a people and our world!
ReplyDeleteWow Joe, this is precisely what I was trying to say in my blog, but you said it a lot better. The idea that “students need to understand the newest technological sciences in the same way that they need to be literate in multiple medias,” is exactly the way I have felt about the last three books. Media, technology, and science are everywhere and have far reaching implication into almost every aspect of our lives. Even though we may try and keep our lives simple and not to saturated by these things, as educators it is very important be knowable about them and able to teach our student to understand and use them in a responsible way. Ignorance about the issues in this book play a large role in the creation of the issues themselves, and just like you said in your blog “the more we know on the subject matter the more we can do to prevent its happening,” says it all. If we really want to save ourselves from all of the dumb thing we have done, the first step is education. However, history has shown that educating the masses is not always easy or cheap. So as future educator it is our responsibly to figure out how we are going to make an uninformed youth aware of the world around them. Sounds fun, right?
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