Scientific literacy: science for all

Scientific literacy is the important contemporary goal of science education. In the 21st century, science and technology has been seen as the fundamental basis for human welfare, economic development, social progress and the quality of life. It recognises the need of scientific literacy for all, not only for those students who are involved in careers as scientists and technologists. This paper first reviews different conceptual definition of the term, then presents a new notion of scientific literacy for adults, as a life- long process, to cope with the rapidly changing society of science and technology. This paper finally discusses the responsibility of science educators to close the gap between academic science and science for citizen.