A scientifically literate population is essential for three main reasons: 1) It allows individuals to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their community. 2) It enables a society to adapt and progress in a world of constant technological and scientific advances. 3) It empowers citizens in a democracy to form educated opinions on issues requiring scientific understanding and debate policy matters from an informed perspective. Without scientific literacy, populations are more vulnerable to misinformation and unable to reap the full benefits of innovation.