Great Idea #1Great Idea #1

““Science is Science is a way of knowinga way of knowing about the natural world, based about the natural world, based on reproducible observations, on reproducible observations,

experiments and theory.experiments and theory.””

What is Science? An OverviewWhat is Science? An Overview1. 1. Science as a way of knowing; how is it different from Science as a way of knowing; how is it different from

other ways of knowing?other ways of knowing?a. What is science?a. What is science?b. Why is science important?b. Why is science important?c. The syllabusc. The syllabusd. BlackBoardd. BlackBoarde. i>Clickerse. i>Clickersf. Branches of sciencef. Branches of scienceg. The sociology of scienceg. The sociology of science

2.2. The idealized scientific methodThe idealized scientific methoda. The nature of scientific questions a. The nature of scientific questions b. The 4-step scientific methodb. The 4-step scientific methodc. Science as a social enterprisec. Science as a social enterprise

3. 3. Great Idea #1A: The universe is regular, predictable, Great Idea #1A: The universe is regular, predictable, quantifiable, and reproduciblequantifiable, and reproducible

Science as a way of knowingScience as a way of knowing

What do you do in a science class thatWhat do you do in a science class that’’s s different from philosophy or dance class?different from philosophy or dance class?

ObservationsObservations Measurements Measurements ExperimentsExperiments CalculationsCalculations ReproducibilityReproducibility

Epistemology – how we know what we Epistemology – how we know what we know. (The three umpires)know. (The three umpires)

Science as a way of knowingScience as a way of knowing

““Science is the search for laws Science is the search for laws that describe the organization that describe the organization and evolution of the universe.and evolution of the universe.””

Most of the really important Most of the really important questions cannot be answered questions cannot be answered by science, but science can by science, but science can help inform your decisions.help inform your decisions.

Other Ways of KnowingOther Ways of Knowing ArtArt A personal vision (Picasso story)A personal vision (Picasso story)

In art, each person brings his/her own truth.

Other Ways of KnowingOther Ways of Knowing ArtArt Political SciencePolitical Science

Other Ways of KnowingOther Ways of Knowing ArtArt Political SciencePolitical Science ReligionReligion Truth from revelation or sacred textsTruth from revelation or sacred texts Not in conflict with scienceNot in conflict with science

PseudosciencePseudoscience PseudosciencePseudoscience

Often based on belief, dogmaOften based on belief, dogma Ideas are not testableIdeas are not testable

PseudosciencePseudoscience PseudosciencePseudoscience

Often based on belief, dogmaOften based on belief, dogma Ideas are not testableIdeas are not testable

Evaluation of a claimEvaluation of a claim1.1. Are the Are the ‘‘factsfacts’’ true as stated? true as stated?2.2. Is there an alternative explanation?Is there an alternative explanation?3.3. Is the claim falsifiable?Is the claim falsifiable?4.4. Has the claim been tested?Has the claim been tested?5.5. Does the claim require Does the claim require

unreasonable changes in unreasonable changes in accepted ideas?accepted ideas?

Who Built Stonehenge?Who Built Stonehenge?

Who Built Stonehenge?Who Built Stonehenge?

Why is Science important?Why is Science important? Scientific principles are all around us, all Scientific principles are all around us, all

the time (look at todaythe time (look at today’’s newspaper!).s newspaper!). YouYou’’ll need science in your life:ll need science in your life:

As a professional (medicine, law, business)As a professional (medicine, law, business) As a consumerAs a consumer As a parentAs a parent As a human beingAs a human being

The Structure of ScienceThe Structure of Science DisciplinesDisciplines

Historical (natural philosophy)Historical (natural philosophy) Modern (branches of science)Modern (branches of science)

Different ApproachesDifferent Approaches Field researchersField researchers ExperimentalistsExperimentalists TheoristsTheorists

Branches of Science – PhysicsBranches of Science – PhysicsThe study of matter in motionThe study of matter in motion

Classical PhysicsClassical Physics MechanicsMechanics GravityGravity ThermodynamicsThermodynamics Electricity and magnetismElectricity and magnetism

Modern PhysicsModern Physics Nuclear & particle physicsNuclear & particle physics Quantum mechanicsQuantum mechanics RelativityRelativity

Branches of Science - ChemistryBranches of Science - Chemistry The study of atoms and their interactionsThe study of atoms and their interactions

Materials scienceMaterials science Organic chemistry (carbon)Organic chemistry (carbon) Inorganic chemistryInorganic chemistry

Branches of Science – Branches of Science – Earth ScienceEarth Science

Study of the origin of Earth, its Study of the origin of Earth, its present state, the dynamics of present state, the dynamics of Earth and other planetsEarth and other planets Geology (rocks)Geology (rocks) Geophysics (interior)Geophysics (interior) Oceanography (oceans)Oceanography (oceans) Meteorology (atmosphere)Meteorology (atmosphere)

Branches of Science –Branches of Science –Life Sciences (Biology)Life Sciences (Biology)

The study of living systems The study of living systems (at many scales)(at many scales) MoleculesMolecules CellsCells OrgansOrgans OrganismsOrganisms BehaviorBehavior EcosystemsEcosystems

Hierarchy of SciencesHierarchy of Sciences

Chemistry

Physics

Life SciencesEarth Science

Mathematics: Mathematics: The Language of ScienceThe Language of Science

Description of a treeDescription of a tree GeneralGeneral

PoeticPoetic ScientificScientific

MathematicalMathematical Size, height, diameterSize, height, diameter Value of lumberValue of lumber

The Role of Math in ScienceThe Role of Math in Science

Source: http://permanite.net/IRL/graph2.jpg

Linear RelationshipsLinear Relationships

Linear RelationshipsLinear Relationships

Source: http://permanite.net/IRL/graph2.jpg

The Role of Math in ScienceThe Role of Math in Science

Distance vs. Time of FallDistance vs. Time of Fall Quadratic RelationshipsQuadratic Relationships

Science OrganizationsScience Organizations AAAS = American Association for the AAAS = American Association for the

Advancement of ScienceAdvancement of Science Sigma XiSigma Xi The National AcademiesThe National Academies Federal Funding Agencies:Federal Funding Agencies:

NIH = National Institutes of HealthNIH = National Institutes of Health NASA = National Aeronautic and Space NASA = National Aeronautic and Space

AdministrationAdministration NSF = National Science FoundationNSF = National Science Foundation DOD = Department of DefenseDOD = Department of Defense DOE = Department of EnergyDOE = Department of Energy

Federal Spending for R & DFederal Spending for R & D

Scientific ActivitiesScientific Activities ResearchResearch Publications (peer review)Publications (peer review) ConferencesConferences GrantsGrants EducationEducation Government policyGovernment policy Business (R & D)Business (R & D)

Scientific QuestionsScientific Questions1.1. Many important questions are Many important questions are

beyond sciencebeyond science The meaning of life?The meaning of life? Is there a God?Is there a God? Personal choices?Personal choices? ““Science is the art of substituting Science is the art of substituting

unimportant questions, which can be unimportant questions, which can be answered, for important question, answered, for important question, which cannot.which cannot.”” Kenneth Boulding Kenneth Boulding

Scientific QuestionsScientific Questions

2. Scientific questions are varied in style2. Scientific questions are varied in style Existence questions: WhatExistence questions: What’’s out there?s out there? Origin questions: How did they get Origin questions: How did they get

there?there? Process questions: How does it work?Process questions: How does it work? Applied Questions: How can we use it?Applied Questions: How can we use it?

Scientific Questions (continued)Scientific Questions (continued)

3.3. Answers to old questions often lead to Answers to old questions often lead to new questions:new questions:

““To know anything well involves a profound To know anything well involves a profound sense of ignorancesense of ignorance”” John Ruskin John Ruskin

X-rays, tectonic plates, genetic code, X-rays, tectonic plates, genetic code, buckeyballsbuckeyballs

SETISETI

Scientific Questions (continued)Scientific Questions (continued)

4. Scientific questions are often 4. Scientific questions are often interconnected:interconnected:

+ Plate tectonics/evolution+ Plate tectonics/evolution

+ Mass extinction/climate change + Mass extinction/climate change

5. Some questions are not now 5. Some questions are not now scientific, but will be somedayscientific, but will be someday

+ Cosmology in 1908+ Cosmology in 1908

+ Consciousness today+ Consciousness today

Scientific Questions (continued)Scientific Questions (continued)

6.6. Most scientific questions cannot be Most scientific questions cannot be answered completely:answered completely:

Experimental errorExperimental error Uncertainty principleUncertainty principle ChaosChaos Speed of lightSpeed of light

The Idealized Scientific MethodThe Idealized Scientific Method

Periodic Table of ElementsPeriodic Table of ElementsDimitri Mendelev (1834-1907)Dimitri Mendelev (1834-1907)

Periodic Table of ElementsPeriodic Table of Elements

A Hierarchy A Hierarchy of Scientific Ideasof Scientific Ideas

FactFact (a confirmed observation) (a confirmed observation)HypothesisHypothesis (an educated guess) (an educated guess)LawLaw (a predictive mathematical (a predictive mathematical

description of nature)description of nature)TheoryTheory (a well established (a well established

explanation of nature)explanation of nature)

What Motivates Scientists?What Motivates Scientists?(How do scientists measure success?)(How do scientists measure success?)

PERSONAL MOTIVESPERSONAL MOTIVES CuriosityCuriosity Teaching & inspiring othersTeaching & inspiring others Peer recognition (publications, grants, awards)Peer recognition (publications, grants, awards) Financial gainFinancial gain Power and prestigePower and prestige

Scientific fraud: Can you trust scientists?Scientific fraud: Can you trust scientists?

Dr. Albert Carl KochDr. Albert Carl Koch

MastodonMastodon

Source: http://www.nature.ca/exhibits/popups/images/mastodon.jpg

Source: http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/fossils/images/mastodon-melli.jpg

Missouri LeviathanMissouri Leviathan

BasilosaurusBasilosaurusSource: http://www.mheine.com/jpeg/basilo.jpg

Albert Karl KochAlbert Karl Koch’’s Sea-Serpents Sea-Serpent

The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science

Science works to defeat fraud and errorScience works to defeat fraud and error Bones = Data & observationsBones = Data & observations Assembled Skeletons = HypothesisAssembled Skeletons = Hypothesis Similar type bones = PredictionSimilar type bones = Prediction Germans put together properly = Re-testGermans put together properly = Re-test

Science is self-correcting because new Science is self-correcting because new discoveries will be testeddiscoveries will be tested

The universe is regular, The universe is regular, predictable, quantifiable, predictable, quantifiable,

and reproducibleand reproducible

What evidence might you offer that What evidence might you offer that this statement is true?this statement is true?

What about 5,000 years ago?What about 5,000 years ago?