[Quokka]

I think I'd disagree with that Steve, for exactly the reasons you point out young people are being exposed much more to science and the direct impact it has upon themselves and the wider world.

When I was growing up a scientist was a guy in white coat tucked away in a lab somewhere with his beakers bubbling away, to some extent I think this has changed. There's a better understanding by kids that scientists can be marine biologists, archeologists or other professionals all working 'in the field'.

There may not be much positive science out there but there is certainly an increasing push to say that this is stuff that can and will affect us, even threaten the survival of us and everything we share the planet with. Its less and less possible for science to be seen as irrelevant to the 'real world'.

When you add young children's optimism to their tendancy to see things in black and white and I bet there are alot of kids growing up now that dream of being the ones to save an endagered species or find a cure for diseases.

I've almost talked myself full circle now, I do think what I've mentioned above will lead to lots of children eventually going on to study and work in a science related field but maybe the flip side to that is less interest by them in something as closely related as SF in favour of those secret passages you mentioned?

Hmm Ive really gotta start thinking these posts through, though I do still think that the overall increase in exposure to science will be good for SF in the long run.