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Demystifying science

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• What is science?The systematic pursuit of knowledgeA way to find out true answers to

questions

• Why do we need science?Because common sense is often wrong

Important questions about science

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1. Clearly identifying the problem

Needs to define what will be tested

2. Formulating a hypothesis

Based on observations3. Testing the hypothesisNeed to change one

variable only- all other variables must be kept constant

Need for a control group

Scientific method

?

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• New drug for headache

• How do we know if it works?

Scientific method

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Science is not always about doing ‘an experiment’- scientific observation is crucial

Scientific method

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• A scientist wanted to test the effect of talking to his plants on how they grew. He didn't talk to one group of plants, and talked for varying amounts to 3 other groups. After one month, he measured how tall the plants grew.

A. What was the experimental variable in this experiment?

B. What was the control group?C. What was the data he collected?D. What would be three variables that he would

have to control?

Scientific method

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ConsensusThe Earth is roundTheory of

evolution by natural selection

Human activity contributes to climate change

HIV causes AIDs

Scientific consensus

UncertaintyWhat will the exact

impact of climate change be?

What will the next global pandemic be?

How big is the universe?

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Weighting of arguments

rate, Wikimedia Commons

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Scientific publications

Primary research paper•Peer reviewed•Background, methods, results, conclusions

Review paper•Describes scientific consensus•No methods

Policy briefing•Includes policy implications

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Quiz

Define:• Scientific consensus• Peer-reviewed• Control Group• Placebo effect• Hypothesis

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Summary

• On pieces of paper, write down what the main points you have learnt in this session are

e.g.• Science is a way to answer questions• Scientific method involves defining a question,

formulating a hypothesis and testing the hypothesis

• There are different ‘tiers’ of science publications• Scientists need to publish papers to progress in

their careers

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• What are the issues for policy makers?

Look at scientific publications• What is it?

– primary research paper?– review article?– policy briefing/report?

• Who is it aimed at?• Does it reflect scientific consensus?• Does it give policy options?• Is it easy to understand?• How useful is it for policy makers?

Example of science publications: Malaria control

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Science in Africa

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Science is the [intensive] human effort tounderstand, or to understand better thehistory of the natural world and how thenatural world works

• It is done through observation of natural phenomena, and/or through experimentation

• And its based on observable physical evidence.

What is science?

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Types of science

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Individual Benefits• Discovery of new things hence increased knowledge

Societal Benefits• Improve peoples lives• Economic Development- e.g. help attain MDG’s• Humanity’s increase control of planet or environment

Benefits of science

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What is Research?. The systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase understanding of the phenomenon under study

. Broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge

Many Special delicacies have one special ingredientResearch is the ‘special ingredient’ that makes science delicious

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Example: Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW)

What is MLW?

• Medical Research Programme affiliated to University of Malawi, College of Medicine (the only medical school is Malawi) and funded by The Wellcome Trust, UK

When was it established?

• Established in 1995 originally as a Malaria Project but diversified in 2003

Case study 1: Medical Research in Malawi

Example projects

•HIV testing in children

•Iron Supplementation for children with HIV

•Comparison of two new Malaria drugs in children

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Example: The Fight against Cassava Viruses

• Cassava is an important staple in many countries.

• Late 1980s, a new strain of cassava mosaic virus emerged.

• The Virus was highly powerful and aggressive

• Result - starvation in some districts of Uganda as many communities lost their principal source of carbohydrates.

• The government- demanded action.

Case study 2: Agricultural Research in Uganda

•Scientists responded by demonstrating that there was sufficient genetic diversity of cassava plants available for the national cassava breeding programme to mobilise.

•The outcome was to increase food security in Uganda. •Today cassava production is restored to former levels and able to generate a surplus

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Example: Combating Drug Addiction

• An estimated 8.5% of Egyptians are addicted to drugs

• The most commonly used drug is Bango- a type of marijuana- but other drugs including heroin are also used

• The Center for Social and Criminological Research on Drugs carried out a study to design a national strategy to combat drugs and to provide treatment for drug addicts in Egypt

Case study 3: Social Research in Egypt

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Case study 4: Health Policy Research in Ghana

Ghana Health Service Research Centres

• Primarily to generate information for policy consideration

– Work closely with programme implementers and policy makers in defining the problem.

– Design appropriate research methods for answering the questions

– Analyse and report appropriately

• Facilitate the policy dialogue

• Monitoring and evaluation of interventions

• Example projects:– Tobacco Use & Control– Strategies for Health Insurance for Equity in less

Developed Countries (SHEILD) in Ghana, South Africa & Tanzania

– HIV/AIDS– Malaria and Pneumonia

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Source: Global Research Report-Africa, Thomson Reuters

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Research output GDP

Research output/GDP

Source: Global Research Report-Africa, Thomson Reuters

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• Lack of sufficient funding • Insufficient trained

personnel• Negative attitude of the

public and policy makers towards science in general

• Lack of trust by communities?

• Poor infrastructure? • Brain drain?

Challenges facing scientific research in Africa

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Goal: developing country specific goals for theadvancement of science information in Africanparliaments

• Get into groups of approximately 5• Discuss why should we do research in Africa?• Discuss what strategy you would like to adopt in

promoting knowledge about science in our respective parliaments?

Share with the rest of the group

Group exercise

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