In the US, representatives of one of the two main political parties are openly and actively advocating an anti-science stance.
Their starting point appears to be a fundamental belief that every word in the bible is wholely accurate and accurately holy. Because science disproves or disagrees with so many biblical passages, they feel the need to attack science. It’s not just astronomy but science in general that is being targeted and we must not let it get like that here in Australia.
Acknowledgements to S. Harris
We need to work very hard at promoting rational thinking, because alternative world-views of how the Universe works are easily spread and entrenched by ignorance and obstinacy. We are not on a recruitment drive. We don’t want to convert everyone to become an astronomer – but we do have an obligation to convey a basic understanding of the Universe to those who will listen.
I’ve said many times that if we don’t trust scientists - if we don’t heed what they tell us - then civilisation will be on the downward spiral. Denial of science is a step back to the Dark Ages. We must respect all scientists, of all disciplines. We cannot selectively endorse the sciences and the scientists that we like and blindly ridicule those that we do not. Science is science.
I would never criticise professional astronomers, they are very clever men and women of high intellect, who are always willing to talk about their work and answer questions. However, I do wish they were required to provide a "plain English" summary with each of their published scientific papers! I sometimes look at them but unfortunately, they are (by necessity) not couched in laymens language, so nine times out of ten I pick up very little from them. Most scientific endeavours are publicly funded, so the information gathered should not be retained only in “science-speak,” it should be pro-actively promoted to the public in plain English.
Public outreach is a vital tool for fighting scientific ignorance. Amateur astronomers can show people the Universe through public observing nights and photographic exhibitions. Professional astronomers can help us understand the Universe by explaining it in language we can all understand.