A national committee of scientists and engineers was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower
in 1959 to consider the issue of how to use the knowledge of science and engineering “to advance
social and cultural life” (President’s Science Advisory Committee, 1959, p. 1). While not using the
phrase “scientifically literate” the committee saw the need for a democratic citizenry that understands
science for “intelligent democratic participation in many national decisions” (p. 21) and the
place of science and technology in modern life. These comments represent a step toward building
a civic dimension of scientific literacy.