Harvard professor Robert Putnam discussed his research on what he feels is the greatest problem facing the nation today — the decline of civic culture during the last 30 years.

Putnam spoke Saturday to more than 150 students, faculty and community members as part of the Iowa Conference of Political Scientists.

Putnam said civic culture is a term used to describe every aspect of interaction with other people, from sending greeting cards to joining bowling leagues.

“Social capital is the term I use to refer to these network of connections and the norm of reciprocity that arises from them,” Putnam said.

He explained this concept further by saying that just as physical capital (such as a screwdriver) makes one a more efficient worker, social capital can make a more efficient citizen.

Putnam uses the declining membership of bowling leagues to illustrate this point.

“The number of people bowling is on the rise. In fact, more Americans bowl than vote,” Putnam said. “What’s interesting is that the number of people joining bowling leagues is down 50 percent from 30 years ago.”

Putnam said this increase in the number of people “bowling alone” parallels the overall decline in community involvement in America.

Putnam cited several contributors to this trend, such as two-career families, longer commutes and television viewership. None of these things are necessarily bad, he said, but each takes up time.

His research also has found a strong connection between health and civic engagement.

“Your chances of dying over the next year are cut in half by joining one group,” Putnam said. “It’s cut in a quarter by joining two.”

Putnam said the solution to this lack of community involvement lies in the hands of every American.

“We’re not going to solve this problem by sitting in dark rooms looking at glowing boxes,” Putnam said, “but we will by going out and getting connected.”

Convention Organizer Tom Rice was pleased with the lecture’s attendance.

“The attendance was definitely more than we expected,” Rice said. “The conference was very successful all around.”