Biology in the promotion of scientific literacy

In this century, major discoveries in the field of biology have confronted citizens with issues that, by their nature, require them to have a degree of bioliteracy that enables them to act and intervene in society. Schools cannot ignore the multiplicity of problems in this globalized world, and have an increased role to play in promoting bioliteracy among young people. This book reflects on the importance of bioliteracy for secondary education. The first chapter addresses the issue of bioliteracy and its relationship with citizenship, while the second chapter focuses on the role of policymakers in restructuring secondary education at the beginning of the 21st century. At the end, the author concludes on the importance of this approach in the school curriculum. This book is the result of a doctoral thesis entitled "The Bioliteracy of Secondary School Students: Political Decisions and Revealed Realities". This thesis studied the scientific literacy of Portuguese students in the 12th grade, whose curriculum included the subject of Biology.