The scientifically literate person understands the nature of science and scientific knowledge.
Science is both public and private.
Science experiences should introduce students to the private and intuitive aspects of scientific inquiry and discovery as well as to the more formal public aspects of science. Science is based on evidence, developed privately by individuals or groups, that is shared publicly with others. This provides other individuals with the opportunity to attempt to establish the validity and reliability of the evidence. When Pons and Fleischman withheld some of the evidence and procedures for their cold-fusion discovery in order to protect their claims for patent, the principle of public disclosure was violated. Past scientific knowledge should be viewed in its historical context and not be degraded on the basis of present knowledge.