Seeking the Big Picture on Science: Taking an Integrated Approach to Teaching Scientific Literacy

One of my favorite undergraduate microbiology teachers used to remind us that the study of biology was important because “we are all biological citizens in a biological world.” Authors James Trefil and Robert Hazen would probably modify that statement, and say that studying science is important because “we are all physical citizens in a physical universe.” In the two books they have coauthored, The Sciences An Integrated Approach, and Science Matters, the authors undertake the grand task of conveying “Science,” with a capital “S,” from atoms to ecosystems and from the scientific method to the very latest advances in biotechnology. Although both books cover the same sweeping, multidisciplinary world of science, The Sciences is a textbook the authors created to teach a course in “Great Ideas in Science” for undergraduate nonscience majors, while Science Matters is a portable trade paperback for those beyond their school years, but who are nonetheless seeking to become “scientifically literate.” The books reviewed here are both new, updated editions, and anyone who has been in the sciences for more than 10 years knows that works including topics like the structure of the universe, the earth sciences (global warming included), or genetics and biotechnology will require frequent updating. Almost all of the chapters in The Sciences have had some changes reflecting new scientific content, and the authors list the significant ones in the Preface. Individual chapters were also updated in Science Matters, and one additional chapter on advances in Biotechnology was added. The first key word in describing these books is “Integrated.” The authors feel that, although college science majors may benefit from taking multiple, in-depth semester-