BBA Advances (Jan 2024)
Should scientists teach: Balancing research and teaching
Abstract
Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact - Carl Sagan. This statement, made decades ago, still rings true. The teaching philosophy and methodology adopted by teachers around the world, in general, are often blamed for such an outcome. Who better to fix this teaching problem than the scientists themselves? People actively experimenting with different aspects of science are best placed to explain the fundamentals of science to ignite and sustain enthusiasm towards science. Although active scientists (researchers in laboratories) may find it challenging to teach science to school kids regularly, it would be ideally in their domain to teach the bright students they encounter in the classrooms at their university/institute. This brings me to the topic of this essay's discussion about whether scientists should only focus on research or contribute to teaching as well.
