植物科学教育的典型问题探讨:以“植物盲”为例

Plant Blindness: A Typical Issue in Plant Science Communication

"植物盲"(plant blindness)现象已成为制约公众接受植物科普和参与植物多样性保护的重要因素,研究和实践表明,推广社区花园、创新教育方法、利用新技术和改善布展设计等措施可以有效帮助人们更好地关注植物。结合中国现状,建议通过进一步加强"植物盲"的研究、重视传统文化对人们认识植物的积极作用、发挥植物园的科学教育功能和推动自然教育等方式,激发人们认识和研究植物的兴趣,更好地实现生物多样性保护以及人与自然的和谐共处。

Plant blindness refers to the inability to see or notice plants in one’s environment,and inability to recognize the importance of plants to the whole biosphere and to human affairs. Plant blindness has become an obstacle of public understanding of plant-based science and engagement in biodiversity conservation. This article reviews the relevant literature regarding plant blindness to explore why this phenomenon occurs and how we can overcome it. It finds that plant blindness is shaped by physiological,educational and cultural features of human being,and the result of the loss of traditional culture as well. It is proved that promoting public’s involvement in building community gardens,innovating plant-based science pedagogy,implementing new techniques in communicating plants,and keeping plants as foreground in urban design are effective approaches to solve the issues caused by the plant blindness. In order to further enhance the plant-based science communication in China,we argue that more empirical studies on plant blindness are needed. Moreover,we should pay attention to the positive role of Chinese traditional culture in public’s understanding of plants,the role that botanical gardens played in science communication. Last but not least,plant blindness could be addressed by the increasing nature education trend,which needs more support from the government.