In this paper I consider a role for risk understanding in school science education. Grounds for this role are described in terms of current sociological analyses of the contemporary world as a "risk society" and recent public understanding of science studies where science and risk are concerns commonly linked within the wider community. These…

Not being listened to, or having their advice mistrusted, is a daily problem for teachers and parents, as well as for doctors, scientists, technologists and other experts. It is also a serious dilemma in applied social psychology (Eiser, 1986) as well as in education where educators talk persuasively with strong evidence about not taking drugs,…