What is Science?

Science is• Both a body of

knowledge and a process 

• Exciting • Useful• Ongoing • A global human

endeavor 

A definition

Science is the process of asking testable questions about the natural world and systematically collecting and analyzing data (evidence) to formulate tentative answers (explanations) to these questions.

Science is the process

• Of discovery!• Discoveries help us find

out new facts AND• Link together “old”

facts to make sense out of the observed natural world.

• It is not just a “collection of facts” to be memorized!

asking testable questions • That can be answered through scientific investigations.

If you cannot answer the question through scientific investigation, it is not a testable question.

• For example, questions relating to:– personal preference, – moral values, – the supernatural, – or unmeasurable phenomena

Source: National Institutes of Health at https://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih6/inquiry/guide/lesson2.htm

Criteria for Testable questions

• “…Centers on objects, organisms, and events in the natural world.”

• “…Connects to scientific concepts rather than to opinions, feelings, or beliefs.”

• “…Can be investigated through experiments or observations.”

• “…Leads to gathering evidence and using data to explain how the natural world works.”

Source: https://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih6/inquiry/guide/info_process-c.htm#testable

Unanswered questions……

• Find out about the TOP 25 unanswered questions:http://www.sciencemag.org/site/feature/misc/webfeat/125th/

about the natural world

What is “natural?”

• “All the components of the physical universe — atoms, plants, ecosystems, people, societies, galaxies, etc., as well as the natural forces at work on those things. Elements of the natural world (as opposed to the supernatural) can be investigated by science. “

Source: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/glossary/glossary_popup.php?word=natural+world

Science study natural things such as bridge engineering, artificial sweetener, the human smile, the

stock market, robots and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

Source: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/natural

systematically collecting and analyzing data (evidence)

Image URL: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/images/us101/sciencerecipe.jpg

1 Scientific Method? NOT!• No ONE Scientific

Method or Series of Steps

• More like a science cycle.

• Pathway and activities depend on the question

• Same steps and activities may be repeated many times

• Others must be able to replicate your results)

• Creativity required• Peer review a must

SOURCE: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceflowchart

Simplified chart for Early elementary

formulate tentative answers (explanations) to these questions

• That lead to further questions and ongoing investigations

• May be refuted or amended by later research

Scientific Explanations

• Are objective – no room for “opinions” or “beliefs”

• Are built on evidence

• Make inferences based on observations and what is already known

Science DOES NOT

Accept explanations based on supernatural causes because they are NOT testable

• Magic• Divine Intervention• Animism• Mysticism

The Role of theCommunity

• Fact checker• Generates new ideas• Watchdog / whistleblower• Cheerleader / task master

Source http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_14

What is scientific behavior?

SOURCE: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/whatisscience_09

Scientific Behavior

• Pay attention to what other people have already done. 

• Expose your ideas to testing. • Assimilate the evidence. • Openly communicate ideas and

tests to others. • Play fair: Act with scientific

integrity. 

http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/intro_01

Your Turn

Is this science?

Use the checklist to evaluate and compare videos and articles:

• Choose a video from www.sciencefriday.com

SOURCE:  http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/whatisscience_03

Identify the connections with the science checklist:

From Science Friday:

• How the Fly Evades the Swatter: http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/08/29/2008/how-the-fly-evades-the-swatter.html

• Elephants Can’t Jump: http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/08/22/2008/elephants-can-t-jump.html

Lesson plans from Science Friday: http://www.sciencefriday.com/teacher-resources/index.html#page/full-width-list/1

Lesson Ideas for “The Nature of Science”

From the UC Berkley site:

• Grades K – 2 http://undsci.berkeley.edu/teaching/k2.php

• Grades 3-5 http://undsci.berkeley.edu/teaching/35.php

• Grades 6-8 http://undsci.berkeley.edu/teaching/68.php

Use the toolkit to evaluate recent news articles, newscasts, commercials and/or ads

SOURCE: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/sciencetoolkit_02

Sources of Online Science News

• Science News for Kids ; http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/

• Science News ; http://www.sciencenews.org/ • Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/ • NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html

• From NASA http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/

Science…..or NOT?

Power Sort:

•Find the headings.

•Sort the strips and place them under the most appropriate heading.

•Be prepared to explain the reasons behind they way you sorted things.

Where is the science in these?(or is there any?)

• Gatorade commercial http://www.gatorade.com/#home?s=01_prime

• ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/scientists-response-ads-measuring-brainwaves/story?id=12841570#.UEOLJsGPUig

• DHMOhttp://www.dhmo.org/NCCA.html

SCIENCE

Not SCIENCE

Not sure

Science

• Related to everyday life

• A process that builds a body of knowledge

• Involves creative thinking

• Supported by evidence

• Focus on the natural world

• All explanations are tentative

• Different approaches are taken to investigate different types of questions

• Results must be communicated and replicable

• Uses testable questions

Not Science• Religion• Lists of facts• Takes the answers

supported by the most people

• Accepts mystical explanations

• Uncovers universal truths that never change

• Follows a specific method for investigations

• Same as technology• Includes beliefs and

opinions• Includes the

supernatural• Is democratic• Magic

Be an everyday scientist

Scientific HabitsQuestion what you observe.

Investigate further. Be skeptical.

Try to refute your own ideas. Seek out more evidence.

Be open-minded. Think creatively.