INTRODUCTION
The cultural roots of scientific literacy go back in history to the introduction of modern science
into Western civilization in the 1500s. In 1620, Francis Bacon noted that “The ideal of human
service is the ultimate goal of scientific effort, to the end of equipping the intellect for a better and
more perfect use of human reason.” Bacon saw the subject matter selected to achieve this end
should be that “which has the most for the welfare of man” (Dick, 1955, pp. 441, 487).
students as productive citizens in today’s world. q 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed 82:407–416,
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