Date: September 23, 2016 Aim #8: What is scientific literacy Date: September 23, 2016 Aim #8: What is scientific literacy? HW: Enjoy Homecoming! *Quiz- Wednesday (p.1) & Thursday (p.5) Do Now: No Warm-Up Today  Please open your notes packet to page 15.

1) What is Scientific Literacy? Involves applying critical thinking skills to everyday life, particularly to claims related to health, technology, and advertising.

2) Why do we need to be scientifically literate? Are all of us going to grow up to be scientific researchers? No, but we must develop inquiry skills that will allow us to make informed decisions about things we encounter in everyday life.

3) Example: Suppose you see a commercial for a weight loss pill that claims you will lose weight if you use It. Before rushing out to buy this product, what are some things you should think about?

You may think about the following: 1) How many people were tested? 2) What is in the product? How long do you have to use it to get results? 4) What are some of the side effects?

4) Where can you go to find the answers to the questions? 1) State Consumer Product Information Agency 2) Friends or relatives who have used the product 3) Company Webpage Scientific journals containing information about the pill

This kind of thinking is called: Inquiry Skills Inquiry involves making judgments about the reliability of the source and the relevance of information. Inquiry- means to ask questions Reliability- can we trust the information Relevance- is the information important to the matter under consideration

More questions to think about: 1) Where did the information come from? 2) Who did the experimental research? 3) How was the experiment done? Did the people who conducted the study have a selfish motive in obtaining positive results?

6) How do you know whether or not you can trust the information from a research study? An experiment should be able to be repeated with identical results.

6) How do you know whether or not you can trust the information from a research study? Good experiments are Peer Reviewed Peer Review is when several scientists examine the details of an experiment

7) What is a theory? Theory of Evolution Is an explanation, supported by observations and/or experiments, that can be used to explain related occurrences.

8) What is a Scientific Law? Newton’s Law of Gravity In addition to theories, scientists also recognize certain facts of nature, called laws, that are generally known to be true. **Laws have a higher degree of certainty than theories.

9) Conclusion Keep in mind that all scientific explanations (theories)are subject to change as more is learned. With new information, scientists must be willing to change their thinking and, therefore, their explanations. What is the main cause for a stomach ulcer? Bacteria