Inquiry

Becoming a scientist

• A scientist is a person engaging in scientific Inquiry to acquire knowledge

• What kind of scientist intrigues you? – Why does this type of scientist interest?– What would you like to learn about this scientist?

Earth and Space Sciences (also known as geoscience is an all-embracing term for the

sciences related to the planet Earth)Astronomy

AstrophysicsGeography

GeologyGeophysicsMineralogy

OceanographyPaleontologySeismology

Chemistry (the study of matter and energy and the interactions between them. Get facts

for the elements in the periodic table)Fuels

Inorganic ChemistryMaterials

MetallurgyOrganic ChemistryPhysical Chemistry

Biochemistry (is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms. It deals with

the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules.)

EndocrinologyCytologyGenetics

HematologyMolecular Biology

NutritionPhotosynthesis

Physics (is a natural science; it is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the world and

universe behave.)Acoustics, Atomic Physics, Dynamics

Electricity and Magnetism, Light, MechanicsNuclear Physics, Particle Physics

Plasma Physics, StaticsThermodynamics

Botany (plant science, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of biology and is the

scientific study of plant life and development.)

Agriculture, Agronomy, AlgologyAnatomy, Horticulture, ForestryMycology, Pathology, Physiology

Taxonomy

Behavioral and Social Sciences (study of systematic processes of behavior)

Animal BehaviorAnthropology

ArcheologyEconomics EducationEthnologyLinguisticsPsychologySociology

Computer Science (is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and

computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in

computer systems)Computer Computations

Computer Data BasesComputer GraphicsComputer Hardware

Simulations, Systems AnalysisSoftware Development

Networking

Engineering (is the discipline, art and profession of acquiring and applying

technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge to design and implement

materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or inventions.)

Aeronautical, BioengineeringChemical, Civil, ElectricalElectronic, Mechanical

Petroleum

Environmental Sciences (encompasses the surrounding conditions that affect man and

other organisms. Natural and human resources are interdependent and the use or

misuse of one affects the other.)Biodiversity, Endangered SpeciesGlobal Warming, Impact Studies

Mathematical ModelingPollution, Soil Contamination,

Waste Disposal

Gerontology (is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging.

It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that studies the

disease of the elderly.)Aging Studies

Diseases Related to Aging

Medicine and HealthAudiologyDentistry

DermatologyForensic Medicine

MedicineNutrition

OphthalmologyPathology

PharmacologySpeech Therapy

Mathematics (the study of the measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and

symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are branches of

mathematics.)Algebra, Applied Mathematics

Calculus, Complex VariablesGame Theory, GeometryNon-Euclidean Geometry

Operations Research, ProbabilityPure Mathematics, Statistics

Microbiology (is the study of microorganisms, which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms. This includes eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses, though not strictly

classed as living organisms, are also studied. In short; microbiology refers to the study of life and organisms that are too small to be

seen with the naked eye.)Bacteriology, Protozoology, Virology

Zoology (occasionally also spelled zoölogy, is the branch of biology that focuses on the

structure, function, behavior, and evolution of animals.)

Anatomy, CytologyEntomology, HistologyInvertebrate Zoology

Ornithology, IchthyologyHerpetology

Vertebrate Zoology

Write down topics that you’re interested in exploring…

• Remember this will evolve into a science experiment, so ask yourself “Is this topic something that I’m passionate about exploring?”

Science Experiment Ideas

• Click on the icons below for ideas • This is just a list of a few resources to help get

you started

Fill out the Scientific Wonderings Questionnaire #1-10 to turn in

Use CSIQ (Complete Sentence Including Question) for all questions

Scientific Wonderings Questionnaire#1

a) List the topics you are interested in. Use the icon (links) below to help you get started.

b) What are some specific questions (wonderings) that you have about that topic?

#2

• Why are you passionate about exploring this topic?

• To be passionate about what you are researching will insure the strength of your work throughout the longevity of the project

#3

• Will you be able to conduct this experiment realistically?

• Remember the goal is to work in your present surroundings with as little expense as possible.

#4

• Is your specific question phrased as a dichotomous (yes/no) question?

• This is not a good idea, as your research will not lead to further exploration, which is what scientific inquiry is all about.

#5

• How could your question serve to solve or improve upon a real-world problem?

• The goal of your research is to improve your own understanding and share this with people in your own life, the community or around the world to make an impact in their lives as well.

#6

• Is your specific question (wondering) Scientific? (i.e. is it testable and based in factual reasoning) – No testing on animals– Is it testable? (Refer to

question #3)– Opinion polls and observations

based in emotion/intuition are non-scientific

#7

• Is your question a REAL question? (a question whose answer is not known to you?) – When learners embark on scientific inquiry for the first time, they

often begin the inquiry journey in a comfortable place. Learners often begin in their comfort zone because it feels safe, even empowering, to have the opportunity to document some of great learning that they have achieved in the past. However, if you stay on this path, you risk investing time and energy into an inquiry that will merely confirm something that you already know rather than leading to new discoveries about your understanding of the world around you.

– Is the question you selected something that, deep down, you already know the answer to? If so, work to reframe or refocus your question in a more productive and valuable way.

#8

• Is your question focused on your own development/learning/understanding? – Sometimes in addressing a problem, learners might focus their

initial question on factors they may be frustrated about; when this happens, rather than being focused inward on one’s own development, the inquiry might end up being focused outward, and framed around controlling or changing others.

– Is your question focusing on controlling or changing the behavior of others? If so, try reframing the question in a way that helps you understand (rather than control) the behavior of other and which allows you to discover what you can do with those new understandings.

#9• Is your topic and question specific?

– Continue to play with you question as the design of your study evolves and adding specific details to the framing of your question helps you communicate clearly the details of your study to other inquirers.

– Two key components you may wish to include in you question• Participants• Strategy/action plan

– Often these details are easy to work into your question as you think about other aspects of your study—your plan of action, how you will collect and analyze data and a timeline for your inquiry.

#10

• You’ve completed the Scientific Inquiry Questionnaire! – Continue to refine your topic and question as you

design your study