the nature of science introductory microbiology. what does science mean to you?
TRANSCRIPT
The Nature of Science
Introductory Microbiology
What does Science mean to you?
Is this the process of Science to you?
We make a Hypothesis to explain observations.
Repeated experiments support our Hypothesis so it becomes a Theory
Further experiments prove our Theory true and it becomes a Law.
I have a name for this…
The Schoolhouse Rock version of Science.
Science isn’t taught like other subjects…
So students get stuck in the rote-memorization rut.
So what is wrong with that?
The problem is one of semantics
Define the word Apocalypse
Most of you go with this…
However, if you were a theologian, you would get…
Then how does Science work?
What is a Hypothesis?
“An Educated Guess” is too simplistic, you need to be more specific.
A Scientific Hypothesis has several features.
It must be experimentally testable.
It seeks to explain how a phenomenon works.
It predicts unknown results.
Likewise, a Scientific Theory is often misunderstood
Theories are NOT proven
Theories are hypotheses that have been expanded into general models of a phenomenon.
Theories are supported but falsifiable
Theories allow for the generation of new hypotheses.
A Scientific Law is probably the most misunderstood.
Laws are a distillation of repeated observations
Laws differ from theories in that they DO NOT posit explanations
Often Laws can be described as Mathematical Equations
The Big Picture
Observed Phenomenon
Hypothesis
Theory
Law
A description, often mathematical
A posited model to explain the phenomenon
Allows the formation ofNew Hypotheses
Repeated experimentation And testing allows expansion And generalization