Sec 1 Thinking like a Scientist

What is Science? Science – A way of learning. A body of knowledge about the natural world An ongoing investigation. This class in a sense is like a history class….. A collection of unified insights of science that have been proven – “Theories” Theory – A general set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature

SCIENCE AS A PROCESS This process fits ALLLLLL careers… Begins with an Observation Leads to a Question Why? How? What? Build an Hypothesis Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis Draw the most probable Conclusion This process fits ALLLLLL careers…

Experiments are tests of ideas… of hypotheses… The Hypothesis -“Spontaneous Generation” of life The Experiment Design Results Conclusion Thesis… Antithesis…

Pasteur and spontaneous generation Figure: 01-05ab Title: Pasteur's Experiments Caption: (a) Observation. (b) Hypothesis.

Pasteur and spontaneous generation… Figure: 01-05c Title: Pasteur's Experiments Caption: (c) Pasteur's experiments. What is the significance of this finding???>>>>>

Experimental Design: Dictates whether “good” or “bad” science.. All variables are kept constant except the one being tested. Experiment is repeated to ensure results are not by chance A “CONTROL” is defined as a comparative condition in an experiment in which no variables are introduced. Le Temoin

Clinical Studies “vested interest” in success (the inventor, or company, have invested $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) Biased, “conflict of interest” Drug and placebo Placebo effect! Blind, and, even better, so-called “double blind”

Scientific Principles… Every assertion regarding the natural world is subject to challenge and revision, based on evidence Results obtained in experiments must be reproducible Any scientific hypothesis or claim must be falsifiable, meaning open to negation through means of scientific inquiry. There is no BELIEF SYSTEM Actually work with the NULL HYPOTHESIS… Peer review… publication, other lab must repeat

Scientific Principles… …Religious Principles What is faith? What is science? These are separate systems. At one time, you were considered a heretic (an enemy of the church) if you considered that the earth rotated around the sun). Politicians/ advertisers / theologians often mingle these belief systems to “steal” your vote / money / faith …

The most intriguing part of all…. A hypothesis can never be proven It can only be supported by evidence It CAN be disproven… This is the antithesis of faith As a scientist, you can have faith in yourself And faith that you will find the answer But you must “step back” from your results and remain open to new ideas YOU can and should digest new information scientifically… Often Yahoo ≠ fact. What does it = ????

Biology – Science of Life Characteristics of living things Assimilate and use energy Respond to environment Possess inherited information and it is passed on, as DNA Highly organized Extremely complex to study, involves physics and chemistry… “Biogeochemistry” (Earth, Wind & Fire)