Malcolm Wicks, the new British science minister, says that schools should use science fiction to teach science. I like the idea, but his examples are very weird — like using R2D2 to teach about robots. R2D2 is a classic example of science being subordinated to storytelling — after all, he exists in a technological universe with faster-than-light travel, is artificially intelligent, but has not been outfitted with a $0.50 voice chip. It makes him great comic relief, but dumb science.
He claims that popular television shows such as the hit BBC science fiction series and the Star Wars films provide children with an insight into real science that teachers can use to kick-start lessons. Science education campaign groups have warned, however, that shows such as Doctor Who often involve ideas that have little basis in science.
Mr Wicks said: "If you start a lesson with the chemical formulae you will lose 90 per cent of the class. If you start with something interesting or important, like something they read in the paper or saw on television, they will remain interested.
"It can be part of an entrée to some of the more technical, important but slightly more boring parts of the subject. If I was a teacher I would start with a chunk from Doctor Who and Billie Piper and say, 'Actually, what was that all about and how is our textbook relevant to that?'
"Take R2D2 from the Star Wars films, for example. We are already doing that kind of stuff in robotics. I would show that, talk about how you would build a thing like that and its uses in the future in the home, in caring for people and for space exploration."
(via Omni Brain)
