“THE Science” of Covid-19

Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic it’s been interesting to hear politicians and journalists refer to “The Science” as if it is a single, fixed entity. Some people have used “The Science” to say we should wear masks, while others argue “The Science” tells us face masks are unnecessary. The same can be said about what “The Science” tells us about children acting as viral vectors and reopening schools. Why does “The Science” in the UK appear different to “The Science” in South Korea? As science teachers we can use these examples to help students understand more that “Science” isn’t a fixed body of knowledge to learn, it is fluid and changes as a result of more data being collected. It can help students understand the words “replicable”, “repeatable”, “valid” and “bias” amongst others.