What’s new about learning?

During the past 25 years, biology has developed to the extent of replacing physics as a reference subject. Social awareness has grown, as has the need to assess the impact of biology on our society. Topics related to health, to the environment, or to social issues-and in particular, to ethical ones- have become priorities. As a result, there is a growing demand for biology education and media reports. Yet most scientists focus their energies on a frantic race towards research results. Few are really interested in sharing their knowledge. First we have to convince them: this is becoming an urgent necessity. In this context, we should discuss what could be an initiation to biology. With issues such as biotechnology and food production, DNA and genetic manipulations, artificial fertilization and cloning, listeria or mad cow disease, what knowledge do people need to master for individual and social evolution? They certainly don’t need to develop abilities in all fields of research. This would be physically impossible, since the amount of existing knowledge currently doubles every 8 years. Moreover, it is difficult to predict which basic knowledge will be required in the coming twenty or fifty years. Most of it is probably still to be discovered. To a certain exten