Humanizing Science

There are so many stereotypes about science having been developed over its history, such as, beakers filled with chemical solutions, fascinating technology, spaceships, robot-like machines, just to name a few. Science is the study of nature and as human beings we are a part of the nature that we are studying.

Humanizing science is one of the major issues that is discussed in science education. A scientist, who is drowning in numerous scientific experiments while trying to find a cure to cancer, cannot be thought of as being separate from the people who have cancer. I believe, whatever science we are working on, it is for the betterment of human beings. I still cannot explain the invention of atom bomb, though. Perhaps, it is a good example of de-humanized science lacking the human aspect of science. I have a strong belief that by humanizing science we can create more meaningful science education. Marine science provides a lush platform to maintain humanistic connections with science.

A lovely decorated crab

Here, Folger Deep is back on the deck after a year. There was an unexpected guest, a decorated crab, which came up on the Folger Deep platform. Passing it from hand to hand we all observed and loved it. It was a tiny, neat one. I wanted to kiss it before I sent it back to its natural environment, but I didn’t, since I don’t know the crab’s version of the story.

Goksenin Sen

Marine Educator