Also there are scads of science lectures (Physics for example) on You tube that are quite interesting to science Geeks like me.

The lectures were televised by the BBC for several decades. However, in recent years the lectures have been shown on Channel 4 and now Five. They have become an established part of the ‘Christmas Tradition’ for many families, keeping children occupied during the days after Christmas when the presents begin to get old, and as such the decision by Five in 2006 to air Home and Away at the time the Lectures have been usually broadcast, 12 o’clock, caused widespread criticism, although the later time was felt by some to be more convenient.

I can’t speak to whether the presentation changed for better or worse as a result. Maybe some of our U.K. readers can comment.

The best science documentaries are shown on NGC channel. BBC’s Horizon is also very good, but they only show a few programs per year. Also, the quality of the Horizon documentaries is not always as good as it used to be. Some appeared to have been dumbed down. Some others have been promoting fringe theories. The last few were ok. though.

For all their faults, mainly an obvious lefty PC agenda, and vices such as europhilia, I must agree. It”ll be a sad day when David Attenborough for example, now 80, retires.

Discovery Channel also shows some good documentaries, although these are often somewhat dumbed down for my taste. (But one can say the same of many BBC Horizon programs these days.)

But another BBC blessing is the absence of adverts – Discovery programs are made almost intolerable by them, so much so it seems more like short program breaks between non-stop ads!

The only way I can watch Discovery is to be busy on a PC at the same time and mute the ads, or else pre-record the program and fast-forward through the wretched things. Channel hopping is hopeless, as one ends up watching bits and pieces of several programs, and in any case ad breaks seem to be synchonized across many channels to discourage this.

Of course, as a scientist, one can, like any other citizen, do one’s best to support the kind of government one would like to see. Many of us do a great deal on that front. One can also, independently, work to promote science education and knowledge, and praise others who do the same.

If you want science to be “an integral part of culture”, then you must have a strong government, and a public that supports strong government. Only a strong government can: fund the media outlets that will provide the science content, volume and quality you desire; force public and private schools to make science an absolute priority; implement and fund other projects that promote science, especially where it counts, i.e. among the younger generation. But if you eviscerate your government to the extent that has occurred in the USA (except for military spending), then you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that around 80% of your citizenry believe in creationism or intelligent design.

Of course, a strong government is not enough; you also need the right sort of mindset from those in power. But without it, you are doomed.

No boring textbook experiments for Mr. Hodges’ students. They invented designs for bridges, constructed small models themselves, and then had a contest to see which would resist their best efforts to destroy them. The designed and built their own solar ovens and then used them to cook actual meals. The climax of the year was “boat wars” – after spending a month or more designing, scavenging materials for, and constructing cardboard boat the kids took to the school swimming pool with their boats and had, yes, a boat war. Not only were the kids themselves completely obsesses with the engineering and design issues, but the event was so popular that every other class was cancelled so that all students could go and watch.

Ed would blow things up in class. (The smoke stains on the classroom ceiling are legendary.) Kids got to experiment with putting their hands in fire. They could get extra credit for trying to eat on a poverty-level budget for a week – and extra credit if they got a parent to join them.

“Science” can – as you well know – be exciting and wholly engaging, but it will happen when there are more experiences like those that Ed created.

Dan