Even twenty five years ago, science seemed a specialized pursuit for those interested in such things. It was an elective topic not central to anyone’s life except as an avocation or hobby, a professional study or a pure exercise of the nerdy mind. An individual life did not seem much altered by whether or not there had been opportunities to dissect a pig’s eyeball or
measure the velocity of falling objects.

Our view of the importance of science has certainly changed as the challenges of technology, environment, health, and our well-being have become more clearly known. We recognize that scientific literacy is critical in our daily lives and we use that knowledge to understand nutritional, disease, environmental, and other quality of life issues.

The cause and effect relationships of science play a role in politics, survival, our world, and its future. Scientific reasoning can be celebrated in poetry, serve as the basis of a dinner table conversation, explain why visitors may not want to vacation in Florida during hurricane season, or influence where families choose to live.

Our appreciation of science has also benefited from the recognition that all learning is interrelated, that we must cease dis-integrating the ways of knowing. While we have long sought to "integrate" fields of study, we are now in awe of the interconnectedness of all things, be they human community or branches of knowledge.

For example, the study of fractals and the mathematical Fibonacci sequence can be broadened to include mathematical concepts, occurrences of spirals in nature, and applications in art.

Engineering, for example, is no longer some unseen job done by professional engineers. Even children riding in carpools can recognize the quality of human invention involved in building the freeways safely, designing their reconstruction, and executing projects that keep highways open while inner structures are recreated. Medicine is clearly based in science, showing up in the form of pacemakers and surgical advances. The extended life of grandparents and the joy of a young child’s recovery from a cancer operation are happy illustrations of life-enhancing scientific learning.

In the last four years, SCDS has revamped its inquiry-based lab science program and learned to focus on practical analytical skills and incorporate them into a demonstrably higher level thinking. By doing so, our students have beat the state standards. The word from the high schools where our students are enrolled is overwhelmingly positive and admiring of their scientific knowledge. Even better, our students are frequently praised for their attitudes of excitement and engagement with science.

Thank you to our science department faculty and classroom teachers for their accomplishments in helping to make scientific knowledge so essential and exciting. The children tell me they "love" science. May their enthusiasm open a new world of study and skill. May we adults be happy with that and ready to stand as models of adult learners. Our faculty has created a relationship with science that is pleasure and challenge, a source and resource. Kudos, hats off, mazel tov.