Scribd
Upload
71 views

Week 3

1) The document discusses key aspects of the nature of science including tentativeness, creativity, observation vs inference, subjectivity, relationships between theory and law, and how science is socially and culturally embedded. 2) Important scientific figures and their discoveries are listed such as Penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming and the polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk. 3) Characteristics of science are defined including requiring testable and reproducible ideas based on empirical evidence and observation rather than opinion. Scientific explanations must fit all available evidence.

Uploaded by

api-557677480
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
71 views

Week 3

1) The document discusses key aspects of the nature of science including tentativeness, creativity, observation vs inference, subjectivity, relationships between theory and law, and how science is socially and culturally embedded. 2) Important scientific figures and their discoveries are listed such as Penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming and the polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk. 3) Characteristics of science are defined including requiring testable and reproducible ideas based on empirical evidence and observation rather than opinion. Scientific explanations must fit all available evidence.

Uploaded by

api-557677480
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

SCE 500

THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
WEEK 3
Recap…the discoveries….
Read about the story, share with your friends about the
discoveries made by the scientist.

1) Penicillin -Alexander Fleming


2) Gravity -Isaac Newton
3) Pasteurization -Louis Pasteur
4) Archimedes
5) Polio Vaccine-Jonas Salk
6) Albert Einstein

suggested topics, you may come up with your own


scientist.
Warm-up…

Einstein's unique way of thinking contributed to


his genius
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuEzkDv
HPv4
The quick story of Isaac Newton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vTbtna25j8
What characterizes
science?
What characterizes
science?

• All branches of science have some


characteristics in common.

• The study of science requires openness


and review. Whatever information one
scientist collects, others must be able to
see and comment upon.

• All scientific ideas must be testable and


reproducible.
What characterizes
science?

• Scientific evidence must be open for all to


observe. It must be measurable and not just
one person’s opinion or guess.

• Empirical evidence includes observations and


measurements. It includes the data people
gather and test to evaluate scientific
explanations.

• The scientist may use specialized tools to make


observations and take measurements.
What is a scientific
explanation?
“Give me an explanation …”
What is a scientific
explanation?
• A scientific explanation provides a
description of how a process in nature
occurs.

• Scientific explanations are based on


observations and data.

• Beliefs or opinions that are not based on


explanations that can be tested are not
scientific.
What is a scientific
explanation?

• Scientists may start developing an


explanation by examining all of the empirical
evidence they have.

• Then they think logically about how all this


evidence fits together.

• The explanation they propose must fit all the


available evidence.
What is a scientific
explanation?

• Often, other scientists evaluate the


explanation by testing it for themselves.

• The additional observations and tests may


provide data that further support the
explanation.

• If the results do not support the


explanation, the explanation is rejected
or modified and retested.
How is a scientific
explanation evaluated?

1. look at your empirical evidence. Think of


all the evidence you could gather to
support the explanation.
2. consider if the explanation is logical, and
whether it contradicts any other evidence.
3. identify tests you can do to support your
ideas.
4. Finally, evaluate the explanation.
Common Habits
What is involved in
scientific work?
• Science and the people who study it are
diverse. However, scientists have some
characteristics in common.

• Scientists are curious, creative, and careful


observers. They are also logical, skeptical,
and objective.

• When you use these habits of mind, you are


thinking like a scientist.
What is involved in
scientific work?

• Scientists make careful observations.


They observe with their senses and with
scientific tools.

• Scientists are curious about the world


around them and the things they observe.

• Scientists are creative. They use their


imaginations to come up with new
explanations, experiments, and solutions.
What is involved in
scientific work?

• Scientists are logical. They use evidence and


careful reasoning to develop explanations.

• Scientists are skeptical. They do not


immediately accept claims, but they ask
questions and evaluate the claims.

• Scientists are objective. They set aside their


personal feelings, moods, and beliefs when
evaluating something.
“Space Aliens Built the Pyramids”
How is pseudoscience similar to and
different from science?
• Pseudoscience is a belief or practice that is
based on incorrectly applied scientific methods.

• Pseudoscience can seem like real science, but


pseudoscientific ideas are based on faulty logic
and are supported by claims that can’t be tested.
How is pseudoscience similar to and
different from science?
• Both science and pseudoscience often involve
topics related to the natural world.

• Pseudoscientific claims can sound logical.


Pseudoscience uses technical language or
scientific-sounding terms.

• Both science and pseudoscience claim to be


supported by empirical evidence.
How is pseudoscience similar to and
different from science?
• Unlike science, pseudoscience does not use
accepted scientific methods.

• The evidence supporting pseudoscientific claims


may be vague or lack any measurements.

• Some pseudoscientific claims are not testable,


and others are supported only by personal
experiences.
How is pseudoscience similar to and
different from science?
• Pseudoscientists may claim that results not proven
false must be true. This is faulty logic.

• Scientists must offer evidence for their


conclusions. In contrast, pseudoscientists ask
skeptics to prove their claims false.
Source…

• Science Fusion: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


Aspects of NOS

• Tentativeness
• Creativity
• Observation vs. Inference
• Subjectivity
• Functions and Relationships of Theory and
Law
• Socially and Culturally embedded
• Empirically based
Discuss & Share

• Misconceptions of Science

Form 6 groups to discuss 6


topics above!!!

You might also like