Amazing rare things

sex chromosomes, or not, and to know the time scale of any degeneration, which should help us to understand the processes involved. What do you think of the growing interest in theoretical approaches to biology? Population genetics has always had a large and integral theoretical component, so I think it is very welcome that there is a growing awareness of the value of theory and mathematical models within biology, and I would hope that some of the simple, very relevant mathematics might be introduced into biology teaching. What do you think is the biggest current challenge facing the scientific community? I think it is the difficulty of communicating an understanding of what science really is. This is affecting young people who don't feel the fascination of science, and it is allowing the spread of all kinds of irrational beliefs, such as quack medicine. Evolutionary biology is under repeated attack from those who think, or wish, that non-natural processes must be involved. Textbooks are, unfortunately, a source of miscommunication. Like peer review, textbooks are necessary, but it is easy for students to think that the facts in them are what it's all about, whereas of course the facts are there for all kinds of reasons (to explain interesting questions, or as part of the evidence for something we want readers to understand). It would help if science were more central in primary schools, and later on — after all, the scientific, enlightenment, approach is central in our culture. Young children are developing their approaches to how one knows things — they need to practice thinking and saying " I don't believe it " , and teachers need practice in showing why they should believe things (and when not to accept things). This doesn't need to involve the latest new developments, but I think it does need hands-on data collection and observation. There are lots of interesting everyday things to understand, like day and night, and the seasons, and plenty of interesting questions to ask, such as how old the earth is, and whether organisms come only from other organisms, or can be created without any kind of parent. A focus on classic questions of science can give children opportunities to use their natural curiosity and learn how to approach questions rationally and collaboratively, and how to use evidence, with no need for any fancy equipment, and to feel the pleasure of …