In Defense of Science: Why Scientific Literacy Matters

Today, only a few people outside of the scientific community are conversant with the tradition of science and its many breakthroughs. The rest are scientifically illiterate. So say Frank R. Spellman and Joni Price-Bayer, authors of In Defense of Science: Why Scientific Literacy Matters. This book explains why ordinary citizens need to have an understanding of science, its methods, and its groundbreaking discoveries. The authors introduce the most basic scientific concepts in accessible and straightforward language. Along the way they debunk several misconceptions of science and scientists, and arrive at a view of science as an integral part of society, policy, and everyday life.

Frank R. Spellman is assistant professor of Environmental Health at Old Dominion University and the author of more than 50 books, including Biology for Nonbiologists (GI, 2007) and Physics for Nonphysicists (GI, 2008). Joni Price-Bayer is a speech language pathologist with Norfolk Public Schools.