Perceptions of Science BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science Perceptions of Science Unit 5 Verity Ablett

Unit 5: Perceptions of Science Assignment: 1 = Scientific Questions 2 = Public and media perceptions of science 3 = Morals and Ethics 4 = Politics and funding in science

Lesson 1 The Nature of Science What is Science? In small groups, write 2 lists: What can Science do? 2.What can’t Science do?

Science: A process by which we try to understand how the natural world works. Scientific Knowledge is what scientists draw from observations and data. There is no certainty in science, only degrees of probability (likelihood). Nothing is ever proven!

Science Knowledge Survey Fill in the survey, A = Agree B = Disagree

Astrology Do you know your star sign? Get into groups of 4. Read out the description of your star sign and decide if it matches with your personality.

Aries (21 March-20 April) Taurus (20 April-21 May) Gemini (21 May-21 June) Cancer (21 June-22 July) Leo (22 July-22 August) Virgo (22 August-22 September) Libra (22 September-23 October) Scorpio (23 October-22 November) Sagittarius (22 November-22 December) Capricorn (22 December-20 January) Aquarius (20 January-19 February) Pisces (19 February-21 March)

Astrology Claims to be able to predict people’s personalities and life events based on the position of the stars / planets Presented in a (fairly) scientific way. There is no scientific evidence to support it There are more than 7billion people on the planet, meaning more than half a billion in each star sign Any truths are coincidence not causal.

Pseudo Science Something that is presented as science, but isn’t. Can be very believable and convincing. Can you think of any other examples?

Cosmetics?

Fibrology!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKXtnP2FxFY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjgCI_mpYZM

Homeopathy?

Diet Claims

Paranormal Investigation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MoK42N5hM

Why should we trust / believe scientists? Question: ‘’Do you believe that climate change is real?’’ Why is this question flawed?

Belief is not relevant in science Most scientists wouldn’t use the term ‘belief’ when talking about a scientific theory. It is more a case of ‘accepting’ a theory based on the evidence.

Belief Belief is linked to Faith Which is linked to religion/spirituality Scientists test Hypotheses by gathering evidence and using it to reach a conclusion. This doesn’t mean science is ‘against’ or ‘anti’ faith, just that it is a separate thing.

Theories Many people think that because scientists call them ‘Theories’ that it is just a guess or an idea. It actually means that it is the accepted theory based upon the evidence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80Lf76Ht18

What is scientific theories were like religions? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_wkCUxOuiM

‘Rules’ There are certain rules (conventions) which need to be followed in order for a scientific theory to be accepted in the scientific community. TED talk: Naomi Oreskes (Why should we trust Scientists?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxyQNEVOElU

Unit 5: Perceptions of Science Lesson 2 – Scientific Questions

Starter Activity: Try to think of an example of: A scientific question that hasn’t been answered yet, but there is a film (or TV series) about it.

Lesson Objectives: To know how some early ideas led to scientific discoveries. To look in detail at the development of a scientific theory

Scientific Questions: Try to think of some questions that early scientists tried to answer. Think about a time when very little was known about the world. What were the first questions people attempted to answer? Write one down then discuss with your partner to see how many you can think of.

Did you get these? What’s up in the sky? (Sun, moon, planets) What keeps us on the ground? (Gravity) How does the body work? (Anatomy /Physiology)

Scientists who changed the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pizPLG89yMw

The development of scientific theories Over the next few lessons, we will look at the development of: The Theory of Gravitation The Universe Theory/Theories Germ Theory The Theory of Evolution

Gravity Aristotle, and Galileo made observations about motion. Sir Isaac Newton

How did Newton discover gravity? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5BQkdyAw8A

The Solar System Early ideas about the Solar System included thinking the Earth was at the centre. (geocentric) The ancient greeks were the first to study the stars and planets and come up with ideas. There are still many, many unanswered questions about the universe…

Geocentric Universe

Heliocentric Universe

Is the Earth flat? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03MBkikLwXI

Where is our understanding at now? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUH334cbzg8

Activity Read ‘understanding the universe 1-4’ Make a timeline of our understanding of the universe. Include the following Scientists and mention their contribution / discovery. (Warning, they aren’t in order!): Roy Kerr, Werner Heisenberg, Ancient Babylonians, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Aristotle, Michael Faraday, John Dalton, Max Planck, Stephen Hawking, Erwin Schrodinger, Albert Einstein, Ernest Rutherford, Edwin Hubble, Alexander Friedman

Century BC 20th 2002

Scientific Questions Some questions have been answered by Scientists (to the highest degree of certainty anyway) Some questions are currently trying to be answered by scientists Some questions will never be answered using science.

Try to think of some:- Answered Trying to be Answered Will never be answered

Answered Trying to be answered Will never be answered Solar System Higgs Boson Ghosts Gravity Cure for Cancer God Evolution Gene Therapy Teleportation? Respiration Prosthetic limb/organ technology Time Travel? Anatomy

Lesson 3 - Development of Scientific Theories Germ Theory

Starter Activity: Complete your universe timelines from last lesson (10-15 minutes)

Present your timeline: Tell the class which developments / discoveries you think were the most important:

Lesson Objectives To understand how Germ Theory developed and the scientists involved in its development. Be able to evaluate the reasons that Germ Theory wasn’t accepted at first.

Germ Theory What are Germs? How do we know they cause diseases? For how long have we known that Germs cause disease? Who was Ignaz Semmelweiss? Who was Louis Pasteur?

1. What are germs? Brainstorm Germs (microbes) Types Diseases they cause Ways they are spread Ways they can be killed

2. How do we know germs cause disease? It seems obvious to us that germs cause disease, but we haven't always known this. What clues are there that germs cause disease?

3. How long have we known? How long do you think we’ve known that germs cause disease? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_P_boGZOVs

Who was Ignaz Semmelweiss? Watch the video about Semmelweiss and how his ideas weren’t accepted for a long time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSLCkT2ttXQ

Louis Pasteur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXdbQ1JkX7c

Germ Theory Read the fact files on the scientists: Semmelweis, Fleming, Pasteur, Jenner Make a time line of understanding on Germ theory (15 minutes)

Why wasn’t germ theory accepted? You are a scientist in 1855. Write a letter to a newspaper, informing them why they should / shouldn’t believe in germ theory. Ensure you explain the work of other scientists and how it has led to your opinion. At least one side of A4

Lesson 4: The Development of scientific theories 2 The Theory of Evolution

Starter Quiz: A characteristic which is beneficial for survival is called an… Dog breeds and farm animals have been developed through… Other species have developed through a process called… Who is most famous for their work on the theory of evolution? Why did it take so long for his theory to be accepted? Why is there still some resistance to the theory of evolution?

Starter Quiz: A characteristic which is beneficial for survival is called an…ADAPTATION Dog breeds and farm animals have been developed through… SELECTIVE BREEDING Other species have developed through a process called… NATURAL SELECTION Who is most famous for their work on the theory of evolution? CHARLES DARWIN Why did it take so long for his theory to be accepted? Why is there still some resistance to the theory of evolution?

Evolution Reminder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhHOjC4oxh8

Evolutionary Timeline: Read the timeline to understand how long different species have been around for. Expand on some of the species. i.e. For reptiles; list some types of reptiles etc…

First Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-yMiyquG4

Are Humans Still Evolving? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZxCn7YgYJ8

How did Humans Evolve? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrjNEMPSQs