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

2. 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

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

4. 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!

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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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.

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

10. Cosmetics?

11. Fibrology!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13. Homeopathy?

14. Diet Claims

15. Paranormal Investigation?

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. What is scientific theories were like religions?

22. ‘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?)

23. Unit 5: Perceptions of Science
Lesson 2 – Scientific Questions

24. 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.

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

27. 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.

28. 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)

29. Scientists who changed the world:

30. 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

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

32. How did Newton discover gravity?

33. 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…

34. Geocentric Universe

35. Heliocentric Universe

36. Is the Earth flat?

37. Where is our understanding at now?

38. 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

39. Century BC
20th
2002

40. 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.

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

42. 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

43. Lesson 3 - Development of Scientific Theories
Germ Theory

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

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

46. 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.

47. 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?

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

49. 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?

50. 3. How long have we known?
How long do you think we’ve known that germs cause disease?

51. Who was Ignaz Semmelweiss?
Watch the video about Semmelweiss and how his ideas weren’t accepted for a long time:

52. Louis Pasteur

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

54. Why wasn’t germ theory accepted?
You are a scientist in 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

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

56. 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?

57. 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?

58. Evolution Reminder

59. 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…

61. First Life:

62. Are Humans Still Evolving?

63. How did Humans Evolve?