Current Events in Science - Why Bother?

Once upon a time I used to teach high school scienceboats and therefore I have not convinced you yet of
and so keeping up with current events in science wasthe relevance of keeping up with current events in
vital. The thing that upset me most when teachingscience? OK, how about this one...
those lessons were the students that refused to seePicture yourself on a summer day doing an outdoor
the relevance of science, old and current, in their lives. Iactivity (apart from swimming), but oh my word, you
often stopped teaching the lesson to try and persuadeare sweating buckets. This does not impress the blond
them how relevant science, especially current eventsdaughter of your new neighbors! How are you going
in science, actually was in everyday life. Think about it,to ensure you look as fresh and "un-tired" as possible
let's just start with the human body... understand how itwhile still showing your physical abilities to this
works and you will have a better understanding of"o-so-nice" young lady?
how to look after numero uno.Long, long ago, when I was still at school, I took part in
Here are two of examples from my every daywhat was fondly termed "cadets". This is where you
existence where science knowledge helped me out:are shown the ropes as to how to march in the army.
I enjoy fishing. A friend and myself were fishing on aIt built discipline and taught you to listen to instructions
farm dam using a two man inflatable boat and thingsand also made you very hot.
were going well. We had a couple of nice size bass inThe heat I experienced during those sessions was not
the bag when my friend hooked into and landed a twodue to over exercise, I mean sometimes we just
kilogram Tilapia. He thing about the Tilapia species ofstood still for long periods of time, it was because of
fish that have very sharp spikes on their dorsal fins.the dark brown uniform that we wore. I remember the
Now any reasonably intelligent person (especially onemaster in charge jumping up and down in front of us
who is up to date with current events in science, as Ifor being so lethargic and sloppy in our marching when
was) would quickly figure out that a two kilogram fishat his age he was still so full of energy. What I wanted
with sharp spikes sticking out of it's back which isto inform him about was that he always made sure he
flapping around in the bottom of an inflatable boat is awore a white cotton shirt during those hours in the sun.
recipe for disaster. We were too busy fishing to thinkYou see, I kept up with current events in science and
logically...therefore knew science - and he did not! White
So when the air in the floor panel of the boat startedreflects the white light that carries with it energy that is
hissing out (because it was trying to establish anconverted into heat, brown absorbs a whole lot of
equilibrium - a whole new science topic), we snappedwhite light. A lot of white light being absorbed means
back to reality. With the boat folding in around us andlots of energy being converted into heat, which means
the water coming very close to lapping over the rimthat by diffusion, heat energy reaches the body that is
the scientist in me yelled to my friend,wearing the brown shirt - my body!
"Spread yourself wide..."So, a white shirt during those physical exertions will
Yup, pushing the sides of the boat wide and increasingkeep you looking fresh. The rest is up to your
the surface area kept us afloat long enough for me tocharming personality - with this combination - the girl is
paddle to the shore.yours!
So you are not into fishing from inflatable two manSo is science relevant? I think so...