SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE: SCIENCE TEACHERS OPINIONS FROM SPANISH SECONDARY SCHOOL

The general public continues to have negative perceptions about science and biotechnology, in spite of the significant contributions that these fields have made to the development of new methodologies for the prevention of diseases, the synthesis of nanoparticles, and the elimination of toxic and/or polluting substances, among others. In order to reverse these attitudes, it is essential to improve communication between the science community and the public at large. With this aim, the first and most important step is to improve science and biotechnology education in secondary schools and sixth form colleges, thereby directly influencing future generations. Secondary school students often ask questions about genetically modified organisms such as corn, animal cloning such as the case of Dolly the sheep, nuclear energy, and ethical issues. Here we designed an opinion survey about science and biotechnology and presented it to science teachers working in secondary education in Spain.