Science textbooks ‘should be culturally relevant’

By: Katie Mantell

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<h1>Science textbooks ‘should be culturally relevant’</h1>
<h4>By: Katie Mantell</h4>
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<p>Mexican students are hindered in their understanding of science because most textbooks use examples from Europe, which have little relevance to young people in Mexico, according to Julieta Fierro, a leading Mexican astronomer.<BR><BR>The Mexican newspaper <em>La Reforma</em> reports that Fierro — winner of last year’s Latin American Prize for the Communication of Science and Technology — will help to redress the balance by coordinating a new series of books on the popularisation of science.<BR><BR>“Science is hard work because you have to make an effort to understand it, but part of this difficulty can be solved by using accessible examples and everyday language,” she said. “That is why it is so important that books on the popularisation of science are made in Mexico for Mexican readers.”<BR><BR>© SciDev.Net 2002</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/science-textbooks-should-be-culturally-relevant/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Mexican students are hindered in their understanding of science because most textbooks use examples from Europe, which have little relevance to young people in Mexico, according to Julieta Fierro, a leading Mexican astronomer.

The Mexican newspaper La Reforma reports that Fierro — winner of last year’s Latin American Prize for the Communication of Science and Technology — will help to redress the balance by coordinating a new series of books on the popularisation of science.

“Science is hard work because you have to make an effort to understand it, but part of this difficulty can be solved by using accessible examples and everyday language,” she said. “That is why it is so important that books on the popularisation of science are made in Mexico for Mexican readers.”

© SciDev.Net 2002