Science Rosalind Franklin Albert Einstein Charles DarwinMad Scientist

What does science mean to you ???

Science is a way of knowing about the natural world using a process designed to reduce the chance of being misled

Science is NOT just the accumulation of facts Science does NOT “prove” something to be true… It is a process used to find the most probable answer

Science is limited to the physical world Must be observable – measure, count, or manipulate Not intended to answer “right or wrong” questions –that is for philosophy, ethics, and religion Does not deal with supernatural

An example of the 8 Steps in the Process of Science Everyone uses science; scientists just use it consciously and follow some basic rules. You come home one night, flip on the light switch, and nothing happens.

1. OBSERVATION The light doesn’t turn on

2. QUESTION Why didn’t the light turn on?

3. LITERATURE REVIEW Find out what lights require to function and what can cause them not to function.

4. MULTIPLE HYPOTHESES What are all the possible answers (hypotheses) to the question? H1: A fuse was blown H2: The lamp is unplugged H3: The light bulb is burned out You need to think of many hypotheses to avoid jumping to a conclusion

5. DEDUCTIONS For each hypothesis, determine what evidence (data) would be required to refute or support the hypothesis? 1) If the power is out to the house, then Examples: no appliances will work

5. DEDUCTIONS For each hypothesis, determine what evidence (data) would be required to refute or support the hypothesis? 2) If the lamp is unplugged, then Examples: the light will work when the lamp is plugged in

5. DEDUCTIONS For each hypothesis, determine what evidence (data) would be required to refute or support the hypothesis? 3) If the light bulb is burned out, then Examples: it will rattle when shaken

6. TESTS/ EXPERIMENTS Conduct tests to collect actual data Examples: 1)Turn on the other appliances 2)Make sure lamp is plugged in 3) Shake the light bulb & listen for rattle

7. TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS Which hypotheses were supported by the actual data? H1 refuted -Other appliances worked H2 refuted-Lamp was plugged in H3 supported-Bulb rattled when shaken Tentative Conclusion: Light bulb was burned out Test H3 again by trying a functioning light bulb in the lamp!

8. PEER REVIEW Submit your report to a scientific journal that is peer-reviewed, meaning that your methods, data, tentative conclusions will be scrutinized by scientists whose reputation is at stake if they allow your report to be published.

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on?

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 1.To come up with some possible ideas that can be tested to find out why the light didn’t turn on.

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 4.Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, light not plugged in, power cord broken, switch broken, power failure…. 1.HYPOTHESIS: a statement that might be true; will be tested by the scientific method.

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 4.Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, etc. 5.Deductions. Ex. Will rattle if shaken, etc. 1.An possible observation that would support an hypothesis, an expected result

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 4.Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, etc. 5.Deductions. Ex. Will rattle if shaken, etc. 6.Tests. Ex. Shake bulb and record sound; etc. 1.Often involves measurements, observation, recording data 2.Compare expected results to actual results by collecting data during tests

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 4.Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, etc. 5.Deductions. Ex. Will rattle if shaken, etc. 6.Tests. Ex. Shake bulb and record sound; etc. 7.Tentative Conclusions. Present hypotheses not falsified by testing.

Science: The Process 1.Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on 2.Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on? 3.Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures 4.Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, etc. 5.Deductions. Ex. Will rattle if shaken, etc. 6.Tests. Ex. Shake bulb and record sound; etc. 7.Tentative Conclusions. 8.Peer Review. Submit to peer-reviewed journal. This creates scientific information.

The Scientific Method 1. Observation 6. Tests 5. Deductions 4. Multiple Hypotheses 3. Literature Review 2. Question 7. Tentative Conclusions 8. Peer Review

Some Definitions Hypothesis = a possible explanation for an observed phenomenon = a possible answer to a question – Must be able to generate testable deductions Theory = conceptual framework that explains a variety of observations, is supported by experimental evidence and is capable of predicting new phenomena = as sure as science ever gets –Not “just a guess,” as used in everyday language

The nature of scientific proof Hypotheses cannot be PROVEN There are no absolute proofs Hypotheses are accepted, not proven, when an hypothesis withstands rigorous testing, especially over time

Hypothesis or theory? In common everyday language, people use the word “theory” when they technically mean “hypothesis” –“My pet theory about why my brother keeps getting speeding tickets is….”

Examples of theories? –Theory of relativity –Theory of evolution by natural selection –Theory of plate tectonics

Science: The Rules 1.Maximize Sample Size. In general, larger sample sizes give more accurate results 2.Representative Sample. Use random or systematic sampling. 3.Controlled Study. Use whenever you ask a question concerning what caused something to happen.

Experiments A way to test an hypothesis Variables: factors that affect observations or experiments Controlled experiment: one in which the variables are taken into account

Controlled Studies Controlled studies are based on comparing a control group to an experimental group. Both groups are treated identically except for the one variable (or factor) being tested for in the study. This factor is changed for the experimental group. If an effect is seen in the experimental group but not the control group, that indicates that the factor changed is likely the cause of the effect.

MEALWORM MYSTERY A student conducted 4 experiments to determine how mealworms respond to light and moisture. All variables except light and moisture were held constant from experiment to experiment. For each experiment, 12 mealworms were placed in the center of a box and then their positions were recorded 24 hours later.

EXPERIMENT 1 QUESTION: Are mealworms attracted to light? mealworm QUESTION 2: Are mealworms affected by moisture? Answer?You can’t tell; it could be either or both

EXPERIMENT 2 QUESTION: Are mealworms affected by light? QUESTION 2: Are mealworms affected by moisture? Answers?They are affected by light; we don’t know about moisture

EXPERIMENT 3 QUESTION: Are mealworms affected by light? QUESTION 2: Are mealworms affected by moisture? Answers?With just this experiment, it seems they didn’t move

EXPERIMENT 3 QUESTION: Are mealworms affected by light? QUESTION 2: Are mealworms affected by moisture? Using the information from the other 2 experiments… Answers?Yes and Yes (despite attraction to light, they avoided wet

THE EXPERIMENTS QUESTION: Which variables affect mealworm movement based on the above experiments (note that movement may be either toward or away from something)? A. Light but not moisture. B. Moisture but not light. C. Both light and moisture. D. Neither light nor moisture. E. Can’t tell. mealworm Without the controlled experiment we would know nothing!

So, what is environmental science, after all this? the systematic study of our environment and our place in it integrates biology, chemistry, geography, agriculture, and more

For the quiz Be able to list and apply the 8 steps in the process of science Be able to list and apply the 3 rules of science Be able to define terms discussed