A person certified as Science Literate (level 1) in any country in the world would have a basic understanding of scientific concepts and principles across different fields of science. A certificate issued would be valid for one year, renewable like a driver’s license. Here are some key areas the SL1 certified person might be knowledgeable about:
1. Basic understanding of the scientific method: They would know the steps involved in the scientific method, including making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, collecting data, and drawing conclusions.
2. Fundamental scientific laws and theories: They would have a grasp of well-known scientific laws and theories, such as Newton’s laws of motion, the laws of thermodynamics, the theory of evolution, the atomic theory, the theory of relativity, etc.
3. Understanding of scientific measurements and units: They would be familiar with different scientific measurements, units of measurement, and the metric system. They might know about key scientific instruments, their uses, and how to read and interpret data from them.
4. Knowledge of basic scientific disciplines: They would understand the main branches of science, including biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and possibly some basic concepts of other disciplines like astronomy, geology, or environmental science.
5. Basic scientific terminology: They would be familiar with important scientific terms and definitions, enabling them to understand scientific literature, presentations, and discussions to some extent.
6. Scientific reasoning and critical thinking: They would have an understanding of the principles of reasoning and critical thinking, enabling them to evaluate scientific claims, identify biases, and differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources of information.
7. Awareness of the importance of ethics in science: They would know about the ethical responsibilities of scientists, the importance of scientific integrity, and some common ethical issues that may arise in scientific research.
In time, wide-spread certification in different areas could help identify those most qualified and most interested to vote on particular issues. This is basically the peer-review process of science scaled up to the entire world population across various areas of interest.
Particular care would need to be paid to the human predilections for deceptive advertising, for promulgating group-think, for closed mindedness, and for regulatory capture. Since there may be concerns about fairness if the non-certified are kept from voting, everyone would be able to vote on any issue, but only certified voters might count. The details of would need to be discussed carefully and worked out, but even so, establishing criteria for Science Literacy Level 1 certification world wide would benefit humanity immensely.
Test of Scientific Literacy Skills
The “Test of Scientific Literacy Skills” (TOSLS) is a widely recognized assessment tool for measuring scientific literacy. It consists of 28 multiple-choice questions that evaluate students’ proficiency in using scientific information and arguments. The test covers various aspects of scientific literacy, such as defining science, evaluating the reliability of scientific information, and understanding basic scientific reasoning. The development, validation, and testing of TOSLS have been described in academic papers and publications, making it a reputable resource for assessing scientific literacy skills among undergraduate students[4].
The TOSLS is based on the premise that scientific literacy is an essential component of undergraduate education, and its development was informed by the need for a comprehensive yet practical instrument to measure students’ scientific literacy skills. The test is designed to be context-based, reflecting real-world situations, and is quick to administer and score, making it a practical tool for educators[4].
The TOSLS is aligned with the efforts to promote scientific literacy in education, as evidenced by its references to influential works such as “Blueprints for Science Literacy” and “Science for All Americans” by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These references further support the credibility and relevance of the TOSLS in the context of scientific literacy assessment[5].
In summary, the TOSLS is a well-established and reputable assessment tool for measuring scientific literacy skills among undergraduate students, and its development and validation have been documented in academic literature. The test is designed to evaluate students’ ability to understand and critically evaluate scientific information and arguments, making it a valuable resource for educators and researchers in the field of science education.
Citations:
[1] https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/23595/chapter/9
[2] https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11312/chapter/12
[3] https://www.washburn.edu/academics/general-education-files/TOSLS.pdf
[4] https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.12-03-0026
[5] https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/9596/chapter/10
