Science Literacy And Math

September 19-25 is Science Literacy Week! Here we’ll have what it is, its importance, the relation to math, and what you can do to improve yours.

What Is Science Literacy?

Science literacy is the application of science in cultural, political, social, and economic issues. You may be thinking, what does that even mean? It means understanding and being able to use scientific concepts in your life. So, that could be using science and critical thinking to decide what to eat, or making informed decisions on the climate crisis. It’s knowing basic scientific principles so you understand the world around you. Science is all around us, and science literacy helps us in everything.

Science Shapes Our Lives

Almost everything around us has been impacted by science. All the inventions around you? They’re science. We now know about the atoms in the air around us, as well as the periodic table of the elements. Plants are impacted through fertilizers, pesticides, and genetic engineering. Without medicine, some of us might not even be alive today! Science is everywhere. We use it everywhere. Developments in science are what let us live these lives, to not live how humans did in the 1800s. Our society will always need it to keep learning and to keep improving.

Math and Science

The theme for Science Literacy Week this year is mathematics. Science and math intertwined. Math is the language of science. It’s statistics, measurements, probabilities, trajectories, and more! Would all of this have been possible without math? Of course not! It’s impossible to express how important math is to science. We use math for the internet, artificial intelligence, engineering, energy, and learning about the universe. 

What Can I Do To Improve My Science Literacy?

Here are a few things you can do to improve your science literacy. You can go to the library and take out a book on science. There’s a wide range of topics, from Canadian inventions to female scientists to the environment, for all ages. The internet is also a great place to learn something new about science. For kids, try out a science experiment. There are lots of fun and easy ones online. You can also try visiting a museum or science centre. In Burnaby, try Starry Nights at SFU, which runs every clear Friday night. Lastly, there are movies, documentaries, and podcasts. 

We can now see how great science is. Try doing something recommended above this week (or anytime), and think about how math is related.