How come we are led to believe that the natural world is exciting and beautiful when we are kids? Well, of course, we are taught this because nature is wonderous and teaches so much about sustainability, economics, living in a competitive environment, just to name a few. Why have so many working adults lost that sense of wonder and appreciation of the world around them? Even by the entrance of high school students are steered away from "old world" topics of organismal biology and evolutionary biology and into molecular and cellular biology. How come the scientific community, as George Bartholomew believed, is compartmentalizing biology? We have torn apart nature into miniature topics like genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, synthetic biology...and in effect lost the whole picture of what biology is. We biologists like the sexy and specialized topics of 'gene therapy' and 'synthetic biology' and have stopped looking around us at the wonderous marvels of the natural world.
What compounds this problem is that people prize technology, business or highly skilled professions, ie doctors/lawyers for their money making potential. High school students are in a FRENZY to get into college. They want to go to the best college that will reward them with the highest paying job. They know that working in a field of technology or business or some highly skilled profession, ie a doctor or lawyer will accomplish this. Since evolution is not typically associated with technology and the promise of financial security, it becomes easily recognizable why our sense of wonder has all but been lost.
Our sense of wonder has been further impaired by the advent of the mobile device applications and advanced computer graphic programs by keeping us focused and addicted on a virtual reality. Perfect example: toys - kids now have virtual pet tigers and robotic dogs - what are parents teaching?! Why go outside and explore when you can have the world in front of you at a push of a button?
When a majority of biologists are so removed from the natural world, who is going to save the natural world? In the age of communication, globalization and technology, examining the natural world seems like an archaic topic. It appears through the public lens that the former is diametrically opposed from the later. Consequently, nature has become abused through neglect.
People may argue that there is a large task force in effect to conserve our natural resources. They are right - we are working on new technologies to reduce our fuel dependency, making products that have incorporated life cycle analyses, increasing public policy awareness of sustainability, practicing more efficient building practices and developing green chemistry...etc.
However, I believe that these changes towards sustainability require a concurrent momentum shift in behavior from the general public. The general public, and not just children, need to continuously appreciate the beautiful designs of nature. We need to never stop wondering about the natural world.
Thus, making nature appear important and revelant is of utmost urgency in order for the public to reawaken its natural curiosity for the outdoors, the natural world, and the beautiful wonders that lie hidden for our discovery. Finding effective portals to reach out to audiences of all ages and approaching education from fresh angles are the challenges educators face. No matter how it's done, we must be inspiring and engaging with our voice of nature's wisdom.
