《中英對照讀新聞》U.S. sweep of Nobel Prizes in science still leaves glass half-empty for many educators 美國囊括諾貝爾科學獎項，仍令許多教育者悲觀

◎ 魏國金

Five Americans won Nobels in medicine, physics and chemistry this week, the first all-American club of science laureates since 1983.

5名美國人本週贏得諾貝爾醫學、物理學與化學獎，這是自1983年以來美國人首度囊括科學獎項桂冠。

The U.S. dominance reflects decades of excellent research and training at this country’s universities and strong public financing of basic research, said scientists. But younger students need more than inspiring role models.

科學家說，美國獨領風騷，反映了數十年來美國大學的卓越研究與訓練，以及公共資金對基礎研究的強力挹注。不過，青年學生需要的不只是激勵人心的模範。

"This is great that we had so much success this year, but I’m actually worried about the future,’’ added Judy Sandler, who runs the nonprofit Center for Science Education in Newton, Massachusetts.

「今年我們成果豐碩，實在很好，但我擔憂的其實是未來，」主持麻州紐頓市非營利性的科學教育中心的桑德勒說。

"I think it should be science for all. I don’t think it should be just science to produce scientists.’’ Science advocates said many Americans show a poor grasp of science when they consider such issues as global warming.

「我認為科學應該普及所有人，不應只是為了製造科學家的科學。」科學倡導人士說，許多美國人思及諸如全球暖化議題時，展現極差的科學理解。

A 2002 survey by the National Science Foundation found that half the public did not know that electrons are smaller than atoms nor that dinosaurs and humans never walked the Earth together.

由國家科學基金會2002年進行的一項調查發現，半數美國人不知道電子比原子還小，也不知道恐龍未曾與人類同時生存於地球。

That is because science education for most children is second-rate, science advocates said.

科學倡導人士說，這是因為大部分的孩童接受的是二流的科學教育。

新聞辭典

glass half-empty 與 glass half-full可作比較，悲觀者看到半杯酒，認為酒杯已半空，樂觀者則會想還有半杯酒。

grasp： 此處指理解、領會。His ideas are beyond my grasp. 他的觀點超乎我的理解。

second-rate： 二流的、二等的、平庸的。They gave a second-rate performance. 他們的表演實屬二流。