prepublication copy - The Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics ...

FIGURE 4‐5 President Obama takes part in the “star party” on the White House lawn in October
2009. Credit TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images.
funding is devoted to education and special activities 4 .
The funding for EPO by NASA increased dramatically from 1996-2004 but has leveled off in the
last half decade (Figure 4-6). For an even better return on the federal investment in EPO, a more rigorous
program of assessment is needed of the outcomes and efficacy across the entire spectrum of astronomical
EPO activities, 5 especially the many less formal outreach activities. 6 The committee believes that
NASA’s important investments in informal education and public outreach at the current level of 1 percent
of each mission’s cost should be continued.
Astronomy Improves Scientific Literacy and Proficiency
As has been documented in several recent high profile reports 7 , the United States is ill-prepared
for the economic and technical challenges of the twenty-first century. In particular, there is an urgent need
to develop knowledge-based resources throughout society and grow the number of teachers and students
in STEM disciplines. For example, the National Science Board estimates that only a quarter of the
population is scientifically literate. 8 Over a third of Americans do not understand that Earth orbits the
Sun, two-thirds are unaware of the Big Bang origin of the universe, and nearly half do not know the
approximate percent of Earth’s surface that is covered with water. Less than one percent know what
fraction of that water is fresh. National science tests administered to schoolchildren show proficiency in
4 NSF Astronomy Division data.
5 Quinn et al. 2006 report.
6 As highlighted in the 2009 Bell NRC report.
7 e.g., Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.phprecord_id=11463; “Is America Falling Off the Flat Earth”
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.phprecord_id=12021.
8 Science and Engineering Indicators 2006, by the National Science Board, defines science literacy as
“knowing basic facts and concepts about science and having an understanding of how science works,” and is based
on surveys of information and the scientific process. Science literacy is further discussed in Civic Scientific Literacy
across the Life Cycle, presented by Jon Miller, 2007 AAAS. Survey results vary between 20 and 28 percent.
PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION
4-5