In the developed world, discussions about “science literacy” often focus on public knowledge of science as scientists define it: physics, chemistry, biology, etc. At a workshop held in Cape Town, South Africa, in December 2002, researchers and practitioners suggested that public understanding of research in developing countries is about much more basic issues: providing clean water for drinking and cooking, learning the essential link between unprotected sexual intercourse and HIV infection, and so on. Programs to support public understanding in developing countries must serve the disadvantaged, must work to overcome social and regional inequalities. Choices about how to allocate scientific and technological resources are not politically neutral.

science literacy  /  public understanding of science  /  developing world