what is science? …and how do scientists do what they do?
TRANSCRIPT
What is Science?What is Science?
……and how do scientists and how do scientists
do what they do? do what they do?
What is science?What is science?
““Science” comes from the Latin word Science” comes from the Latin word
scientiascientia
which means “to know.” which means “to know.”
What is science?What is science?
• Science is an Science is an intellectualintellectual activity activity carried out by humanscarried out by humans
• It involves the It involves the observationobservation of of natural events and the world around natural events and the world around usus
What is science?What is science?
• Science involves studying our Science involves studying our observations to observations to discover patternsdiscover patterns
What is science?What is science?
• It’s organized, so that we can make It’s organized, so that we can make theories and laws about our theories and laws about our observationsobservations
What is science? - theoriesWhat is science? - theories
• Students often have definitions for Students often have definitions for the word the word theorytheory that are quite that are quite different from the scientific meaning different from the scientific meaning of the word. of the word.
• To nonscientists, the word theory To nonscientists, the word theory often means a hunch, opinion or a often means a hunch, opinion or a guess. guess.
What is science? - theoriesWhat is science? - theories
• A theory in the non-scientific sense A theory in the non-scientific sense of the word does not require firm of the word does not require firm evidence to support it, nor does it evidence to support it, nor does it require the consensus of others.require the consensus of others.
• In common usage it’s In common usage it’s
not unusual to hear not unusual to hear
someone say, “I have a someone say, “I have a
theory about…”theory about…”
What is science? – theoriesWhat is science? – theories
• BUT, in SCIENCE:BUT, in SCIENCE:– Scientific theories are based on Scientific theories are based on
observations that have been tested and observations that have been tested and supported with supported with multiple lines of multiple lines of evidenceevidence..
– Theories are Theories are widely acceptedwidely accepted in the in the scientific community and can be used to scientific community and can be used to make make predictionspredictions..
What is science? - theoriesWhat is science? - theories• A theory can also A theory can also
predict predict – such as making such as making
predictions about predictions about our earliest our earliest ancestors based on ancestors based on the human fossil the human fossil recordrecord
– such as predicting such as predicting things that take a things that take a long time, like the long time, like the evolution of starsevolution of stars
What is science? - theoriesWhat is science? - theories
• Theories in science are considered “true,” Theories in science are considered “true,” but because of the dynamic nature of but because of the dynamic nature of science, they can change if science, they can change if new evidencenew evidence becomes available. becomes available.
• Such new evidence may be made possible Such new evidence may be made possible through new technology, new ways of through new technology, new ways of analyzing data, new theoretical advances, or analyzing data, new theoretical advances, or shifts in research that examine new shifts in research that examine new information and lead to a change in a information and lead to a change in a theory.theory.
What is science? - theoriesWhat is science? - theories
Examples of scientific theories include Examples of scientific theories include
• the germ theory of disease, the germ theory of disease,
• the theory of evolution, the theory of evolution,
• plate tectonics theory plate tectonics theory – (discovered in my lifetime!),(discovered in my lifetime!),
• the big bang theory, and the big bang theory, and
• string theory string theory (this, too!).(this, too!).
What is science? - LawsWhat is science? - Laws
• Laws are Laws are central conceptscentral concepts of science – of science – certain “pillars” that support the whole certain “pillars” that support the whole structure. structure.
• There are a limited number of them, but There are a limited number of them, but they account for everything we see in the they account for everything we see in the world around us. world around us.
• Laws basically tell us how the world works.Laws basically tell us how the world works.
• There are not exceptions to scientific laws. There are not exceptions to scientific laws.
What is science? - LawsWhat is science? - Laws
• For example: Isaac Newton showed For example: Isaac Newton showed us that one set of laws describes all us that one set of laws describes all motion.motion.
• They are regular and predictable, a They are regular and predictable, a characteristic of scientific laws. characteristic of scientific laws.
• Do you know them?Do you know them?
What is science? - LawsWhat is science? - Laws
• Examples of scientific laws includeExamples of scientific laws include– Newton’s laws of motionNewton’s laws of motion– Universal law of gravitationUniversal law of gravitation– Boyle’s lawBoyle’s law– Mendel’s lawsMendel’s laws
What is science? - LawsWhat is science? - Laws
• More laws…More laws…– Kepler’s lawsKepler’s laws– Laws of thermodynamicsLaws of thermodynamics– Laws of electricity and magentismLaws of electricity and magentism– Relativity (just ask Einstein!)Relativity (just ask Einstein!)
– Etc. etc. etc. etc.Etc. etc. etc. etc.
What is science? - Theories vs. What is science? - Theories vs. LawsLaws
• A law describes a phenomenon or event – A law describes a phenomenon or event – it says to expect it, that it happens, but it it says to expect it, that it happens, but it does not does not explainexplain whywhy, like a theory does., like a theory does.
• A theory is not a “law in waiting.” Theories A theory is not a “law in waiting.” Theories do not mature into laws.do not mature into laws.
• A theory is a well-established explanation.A theory is a well-established explanation.
• Laws describe Laws describe whatwhat and theories explain and theories explain whywhy. .
What is science? What is science?
• ““Science is not a body of facts. Science Science is not a body of facts. Science is a state of mind. It is a way of viewing is a state of mind. It is a way of viewing the world, of facing reality square on the world, of facing reality square on but taking nothing on its face. It is but taking nothing on its face. It is about attacking a problem with the about attacking a problem with the most manicured of claws and tearing it most manicured of claws and tearing it down into sensible, edible pieces.”down into sensible, edible pieces.”
Natalie Angiers, Natalie Angiers, The CanonThe Canon
What is a scientist?What is a scientist?
• Type “scientist” into Google Images and Type “scientist” into Google Images and these are the top 5 images:these are the top 5 images:
• What do you see?What do you see?• What did you draw?What did you draw?
What is a scientist?What is a scientist?
Not those Not those guys!guys!
We know a lot of scientists We know a lot of scientists and NONE of them look and NONE of them look
like that?!like that?!
What is a scientist?What is a scientist?
• THIS is more like it! This is REAL!THIS is more like it! This is REAL!
What is a scientist? What is a scientist?
• CreativeCreative
• LogicalLogical
• Asks great questionsAsks great questions• Scientists know that any new discovery Scientists know that any new discovery
they’re lucky enough to uncover will raise they’re lucky enough to uncover will raise more questions than they started with, and more questions than they started with, and they always question what they thought they always question what they thought was correct…science is a very humbling was correct…science is a very humbling activity.activity.
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do? do?
• Science is guided by the Science is guided by the question question askedasked. .
• The question guides the type of The question guides the type of investigation you’ll do.investigation you’ll do.
• There is no ONE “scientific method” There is no ONE “scientific method” or steps that scientists follow.or steps that scientists follow.
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do? do? • Sometimes the question asked leads Sometimes the question asked leads
scientists to start with something they scientists to start with something they know and apply it to something they know and apply it to something they don’t…anddon’t…and
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do?do?
• Sometimes the question asked leads Sometimes the question asked leads scientists to an experiment. scientists to an experiment.
• Scientists design experiments that Scientists design experiments that ask only ask only one questionone question at a time. at a time.
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do?do?
Experiments involve testing cause and Experiments involve testing cause and effect relationships between variables –effect relationships between variables –
They isolate a They isolate a single variablesingle variable and see and see what happens when they change only what happens when they change only that ONE variable (while doing their that ONE variable (while doing their very best to keep everything else in the very best to keep everything else in the experiment the same, or constant.)experiment the same, or constant.)
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do?do?
• Scientists are detectives, they ask Scientists are detectives, they ask good questions! good questions!
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do?do?
• But they don’t only do experiments. But they don’t only do experiments. • Astronomy, field studies in nature, and Astronomy, field studies in nature, and
paleontology are some of the examples of paleontology are some of the examples of areas of science in which it would be areas of science in which it would be difficult to do experiments. So sometimes difficult to do experiments. So sometimes they do research.they do research.
How do scientists do what they How do scientists do what they do?do?
• Scientists also ask questions Scientists also ask questions that lead them to …that lead them to …– Build modelsBuild models– Do tests and collect dataDo tests and collect data– Make observationsMake observations– Collect stuff (like rocks) Collect stuff (like rocks) – Use instruments to extend their sensesUse instruments to extend their senses– Sometimes have good luck!Sometimes have good luck!
So how do scientists get the So how do scientists get the “right’ answer? “right’ answer? • Science is social – Science is social –
oddly enough, so is oddly enough, so is learning! learning!
• One scientist makes a One scientist makes a discovery…they pass discovery…they pass the information on to the information on to their colleaguestheir colleagues
• Their colleagues follow Their colleagues follow the procedure and try the procedure and try to recreate the results to recreate the results under the same under the same circumstancescircumstances
How do scientists get the How do scientists get the “right’ answer?“right’ answer?
• Scientists communicate to get Scientists communicate to get consensusconsensus
Publications
MeetingsPoster sessions
How do scientists get the How do scientists get the “right’ answer?“right’ answer?
• Scientists publish papers that other Scientists publish papers that other scientists read. This is called a “peer scientists read. This is called a “peer review.” review.”
• Other scientists re-create the work of Other scientists re-create the work of the original scientist to see if they the original scientist to see if they get the same answer. get the same answer.
• If other scientists agree, all is well. If If other scientists agree, all is well. If others do not agree, more testing is others do not agree, more testing is done to check for the “right” answer. done to check for the “right” answer.
How do scientists get the How do scientists get the “right’ answer?“right’ answer?
• The “right” answer is derived The “right” answer is derived through consensus after following through consensus after following logical steps. logical steps.
• Some theories that have strong Some theories that have strong consensus are the consensus are the theory of theory of evolution by natural selectionevolution by natural selection, the , the theory of plate tectonicstheory of plate tectonics and and global global warmingwarming. .
How do scientists get the How do scientists get the “right’ answer?“right’ answer?
• Sometimes, the right Sometimes, the right answer gets changed answer gets changed because there is new because there is new evidence or evidence or observations, butobservations, but
• Most scientific Most scientific knowledge is knowledge is durable. Scientists durable. Scientists generally modify generally modify ideas, rather than ideas, rather than reject them outright. reject them outright.
What can’t science prove?What can’t science prove?
• The existence of supernatural powers The existence of supernatural powers or beingsor beings
• The true purpose of lifeThe true purpose of life
• Good vs. evil…Good vs. evil…
• The paranormalThe paranormal
Where is science done? Where is science done?
• Governments, such as at our national labsGovernments, such as at our national labs
• HospitalsHospitals
• UniversitiesUniversities
• Businesses (think pharmaceuticals…)Businesses (think pharmaceuticals…)
• Industry (like computer factories…)Industry (like computer factories…)• Independent research organizations Independent research organizations (Howard (Howard
Hughes Medical Institute) Hughes Medical Institute)
• Scientific associations (AAAS)Scientific associations (AAAS)
Los Alamos NL
Where is science done?Where is science done?
• ……andand
• OutsideOutside
• Under the seaUnder the sea
• In classroomsIn classrooms
• OfficesOffices
• LabsLabs
• Space! Space!
Science careersScience careers
• Discussion: What do the adults in Discussion: What do the adults in your life do for a living? Where is your life do for a living? Where is science involved in their jobs? science involved in their jobs?
• What are some science careers you What are some science careers you know about?know about?
Science is everywhere!Science is everywhere!
There is science in EVERYTHING!There is science in EVERYTHING!
Go ahead, name something…I bet Go ahead, name something…I bet there is science involved. there is science involved.