Stuart Firestein & Natalia Pasternak - What Makes a True Science Class - LiliCon 2026

We recently proposed a new science course titled “Science For Future Leaders” focused on developing skills in understanding evidence, rationality, bias, risk and probability, role of science in a democracy, cause v. correlation. While generally applauded, the Committee on Science Instruction, consisting of science faculty, initially felt that it was not ‘sufficiently scientific’ to fulfill the requirements for a Core science course. This raises the question of why scientists and science educators do not consider science literacy and science communication to be critical skills in scientific practice.