Giving Compass' Take:

• Brian Kennedy and Meg Hefferon at Pew Research Center report on what Americans know about science and finds that although many can answer at least some questions about science concepts, there is a knowledge gap in certain areas.

• How can educators ensure that everyone has equal opportunities and access to scientific knowledge? 

• Learn about the next generations' science standards for learning. 

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that many Americans can answer at least some questions about science concepts – most can correctly answer a question about antibiotics overuse or the definition of an “incubation period,” for example. But other concepts are more challenging; fewer Americans can recognize a hypothesis or identify that bases are the main components of antacids.

The survey, conducted Jan. 7 to 21, 2019, takes stock of the degree to which the public shares a common understanding of science facts and processes in an era of easy access to information and sometimes-intense debate over what information is true and false.

Americans’ knowledge of specific facts connected with life sciences and earth and other physical sciences varies, of course. About eight-in-ten (79%) correctly identify that antibiotic resistance is a major concern about the overuse of antibiotics. A similar share (76%) know an incubation period is the time during which someone has an infection but is not showing symptoms.

Read the full article about what Americans know about science by Brian Kennedy and Meg Hefferon at Pew Research Center.