title: The value of asking questions.
abstract: Science begins by asking questions and then seeking answers. Young children understand this intuitively as they explore and try to make sense of their surroundings. However, science education focuses upon the end game of "facts" rather than the exploratory root of the scientific process. Encouraging questioning helps to bring the true spirit of science into our educational system, and the art of asking good questions constitutes an important skill to foster for practicing scientists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. vale@cmp.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D012106:Research; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*