Guest editorial: Global science literacy: An earth system view

Abstract

There is now a need for science education programs that inform citizens, as well as future politicians and business leaders, about how the world works. Since the beginning of World War I, science has focused on the provision of knowledge that provided the basis for developing technology employed in war between nations. This science has brought about changes in our climate system. However, with the end of the cold war, the need for weapons of offense and defense should be diminished and science curricula should be developed to parallel these changes in national priorities for science. The Earth Systems Education (ESE) program at The Ohio State University and the University of Northern Colorado and the implications that can be drawn for the role of ESE in providing a basis for the development of a truly global definition of science literacy are discussed.