U.S. Leadership in Science May Depend on 8th-Graders

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by petek

Right on the heels of the Live Science article, Wired Magazine has "Don't Try This At Home" which deals with how people are developing a fear of science - chemistry in particular - and how difficult it is becoming to persue this interest without running afoul of liability phobia, regulators and the law.

...For my part, growing up with a chemical engineer father, it was natural that we'd spend quality time making black powder and sky rockets together. That experience taught me the fundimentals of chemical safety, experimental procedure and the pure joy of things that go "bang".

NOW I remember why I decided not to become a scientist: I hate explosions.

A green little chemist
On a green little day
Mixed some green little chemicals
In a green little way
The green little grasses
Now tenderly wave
Over the green little chemist's
Green little grave.

I memorized this ditty and became an English major instead.