The Amazonia Science Gallery, for Science's Sake by Lily Whiteman Ask typical teenagers to name sports or music stars, and lists of idols roll off their tongues. But ask them to name important scientists, and they tend to become tongue tied. It's not just that scientific discovery is perceived as less dramatic than arena athletics and rock extravaganzas, or that most science luminaries lack the big muscles, big money, and flamboyance of many high profile figures. Something deeper seems to be discouraging young people from becoming science junkies.
Some critics blame scientific illiteracy on flawed education.
With students deprived of inspirational exposure, science fails to attract a following proportional in size to its importance. But if to know science is to love science, then the National Zoo's new Amazonia Science Gallery the Smithsonian's first exhibit dedicated solely to the process of scientific discovery should go a long way toward boosting the popularity of critical scientific disciplines. At the heart of the Science Gallery, which opened on December 16, are four active laboratories that put behind the scenes research squarely at center stage. Here, visitors are invited to watch scientists conduct experiments, and chat with them about their findings. The Science Gallery laboratories currently focus on animal nutrition, behavior and bioacoustics, genetics, and biodiversity.