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Increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere caused by
the steady decline of tropical rain forests and the steady rise
in industrial pollution has created world-wide concern over the
future of the planet Earth.
A space station is in the process of being built to be used
to study the Earth, stars and man in space...and boiling a kettle
of water. |
What do these three things have in common? They are all directly
linked to the wonderful thing called science.
Science permeates our lives and informs our actions. Physics,
for example, teaches us how mirrors work, how glasses can aid
one's vision and how heat is treated by various household materials
(plates and utensils). Chemistry discusses the principles of
matter, like atoms, molecules and compounds. It discusses the
countless different substances that can arise from the minutest
variations within compounds. These atoms, molecules and compounds
make up the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe,
the medicines we take when we are sick. Some we can't possibly
live without.
Biology, the study of life, teaches us why we are the way
we are, why we need what we need to survive, how all living things
are categorized, when we all came from. These, and countless
other questions and answers are all related to science.
Going deeper into the concept of science and it's importance,
you can understand why it is essential for Canada to have a clear
idea how will students are doing in this subject area. Why? Students
are the future of Canada.
In order to keep our economy growing, we need a new wave of
educated students ready for modern scientific research, teaching
and technological development.
There have been so many tremendous advances in technology
over the last decade or so, in fact the pace is accelerating.
Everyday new things are discovered and with the increase in scientific
knowledge, there is an increase in demand for educated students.
Cancer research has found a virus capable of killing cancerous
tumors in rats. Although this has not been sufficiently tested
for use on people yet, scientists predict that testing on human
volunteers may come into effect in around two years or so. There
has also been the ever-controversial breakthroughs in the cloning
of sheep and mice, which can have a great impact (whether good
or bad) on the future.
Furthermore, it is essential for Canada to know how well students
are doing in science because without this knowledge you can't
even hope to be able to modify the school systems with the intention
of challenging and encouraging students in the various branches
of science. To accommodate growing reliance on this subject,
you can't leave everything the way it is and hope that Canadian
students keep on top.
Similarly, science is also important in the international
job market. The greater the advances in scientific technology,
the greater the demand for workers sufficiently educated in these
particular areas. Excellence in the sciences can open many doors,
otherwise closed, for students. These skills can get you a job
almost anywhere in the world, and with the growing concerns about
finding jobs, it certainly helps to have so many options available
to you. From engineering to dentistry, or from cancer research
to maintaining a national park, a large percentage of the jobs
today require background in science.
There is another important aspect of science that I have saved
for last. Science is fun. Fun in many ways. Learning is always
fun but it's especially rewarding when it has something to do
with the things going on around you. There is a satisfaction
that comes from learning about these often complex matters that
goes far beyond merely getting a good grade. It helps you to
understand the world around you and to appreciate it's complexities.
It teaches you that we can't possibly understand everything about
the world ever, but we go on trying anyway, engaging in the never-
ending search for truths... and why? We do this because science
is fun and exciting. The more we learn, the more we want to learn,
the more we feel ourselves pushed towards the answers and towards
further questions, towards the future... |