Western Australian school students understanding of biotechnology

Authors

Vaille Dawson, Edith Cowan University
Renato Schibeci

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Faculty

Faculty of Community Services, Education and Social Sciences

School

School of Education

RAS ID

2335

Comments

Dawson, V., & Schibeci, R. (2003). Western Australian school students' understanding of biotechnology. International Journal of Science Education, 25(1), 57-69. Available here

Abstract

Are science educators providing secondary school students with the background to understand the science behind recent controversies such as the recently introduced compulsory labelling of genetically modified foods? Research from the UK suggests that many secondary school students do not understand the processes or implications of modern biotechnology. The situation in Australia is unclear. In this study, 1116 15-year-old students from eleven Western Australian schools were surveyed to determine their understanding of, and attitude towards, recent advances in modern biotechnology. The results indicate that approximately one third of students have little or no understanding of biotechnology. Many students over-estimate the use of biotechnology in our society by confusing current uses with possible future applications. The results provide a rationale for the inclusion of biotechnology, a cutting edge science, in the school science curriculum

DOI

10.1080/09500690210126720