Reflecting the Nature of Science in Science Education Keith S. Taber Why teach science? Science is now an accepted, indeed often a core, part of the school curriculum around the world. However, no matter how much time is put aside for teaching science, there always has to be a severe selection of material as there is much more potential science content than could realistically be fitted within a pupil’s school career. In selecting curriculum, we should always keep in minds our purposes for teaching science. There are a number of good reasons that might be suggested for teaching science. In particular it is worth considering the following arguments: • It is important to teach science because of the need for future scientists, engineers, technologists, and others who will need a strong science background for their work. • It is important to teach science as it is an important aspect of modern culture and everyone should appreciate this aspect of culture. • It is important to teach science because a knowledge of science is needed for citizenship in modern technological societies. The first argument has two aspects. Societies need a supply of suitably qualified people to work as scientists, doctors, engineers and so forth, and that requires sufficient pupils completing school who are qualified and motivated to enter science and related areas in further and higher education. The other aspect of this is that many young children do aspire to be scientists, or to work in areas applying science such as medicine and engineering. Perhaps not all have the potential to reach their aspirations, but schools should give pupils suitable opportunities (through suitable science and mathematics teaching, for example) such that those with the desire and aptitude are able to progress to scientific careers. https://science-education-research.com This is the author’s manuscript version. The version of record is: Taber, K. S. (2017). Reflecting the nature of science in science education. In K. S. Taber & B. Akpan (Eds.), Science Education: An International Course Companion (pp. 23-37). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.