Sandra Tsing Loh

Almost 50 years since man landed on the moon, almost half of America still believes in Creationism. This part of the population’s opinion on climate change varies, depending on how well or poorly the economy is doing. Our iPhones harness computing power that used to launch rockets, and we use this technology to find the nearest Cheesecake Factory. Raising American scientific literacy is key, not just for the advancement of science, but for Earth’s future—solutions to our global problems will be not just technological but human. As Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s two million Twitter followers suggest, 21st Century scientists are capable of being both technical experts and effective communicators.