Because of crises in the environment since the mid-20th century, science education has been
concerned with protecting the environment. This study examines the significance of applying Carol
Gilligan’s “ethics of care” into science education. Accordingly, a total of 458 sixth and tenth graders,
sampled from the metropolitan and rural areas, participated in an “ethics of care” test. Students\'
“ethics of care” were analyzed by their grade, gender, religion, living environment, previous
exposure to environmental education, experience with “ethics of care”-related activities, and
experience with science-related activities. The results are as follows. First, tenth graders rather than
6th graders, believers in Catholicism rather than other religions, and students with a long residence
period in metropolitan areas, showed a significantly higher “ethics of care” quotient than others.
On the other hand, gender and previous exposure to environmental education did not appear to
affect the students\' “ethics of care” for the environment. Student experience with science-related
activities such as reading science books and watching science TV program seem to have had more
impact on their “ethics of care” quotient than their “ethics of care”-related activities. This study
hopes to provide basic data for the improvement of science and environmental education.