The Natural Sciences

1. The Natural Sciences By: Rohma Amir, Nabil Dharamsi, Alyssa Evans, Angel Garcés, and Kevin Ruder

2. Activity: What is Science? • Do not turn your paper over until we tell you to do so. • Do not look at other peoples’ papers. Be original! • You will have 20 seconds to complete each assignment.

3. Activity: What is Science? • Compare your results to those of the people around you • Are they similar? Or are they completely different? Why do you think that this is?

4. Definition of Science: • http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/science?s=t • Do you agree with this definition? Why or why not?

5. Our “Definition of Science”: Science is an objective, self-correcting, repeating process, by which we organize and and collect information and facts from observation and experimentation.

6. Let’s Break It Down: Natural World • Science is involved with the study of the natural world, not the supernatural. • Cooking and Astronomy • Science is not the part of the study of religion or belief system, as the tools of science does not apply to them.

7. Let’s Break It Down: Observation • Gathering physical evidence • All Senses and Scientific Devices • If it cannot be observed, then it is not part of science- at least not now…

8. Let’s Break It Down: Objective • One of the most important parts of observation • Not letting your beliefs and expectations getting in the way of your observations • If things do not come out the way that you expect, it can be disheartening. But it should encourage you because you discovered something new, explore and find out why! • Experiment

9. Let’s Break It Down: Experimentation • Experiments are basically just controlled observation • Some experiments have to be done in the lab, because they would never happen naturally

10. Let’s Break It Down: Repeating • It is very important to repeat an experiment • Heads versus Tails Experiment • It is also important to have your experiment repeated by other scientists as well! • This can lead to tweaking of ideas and knowledge

11. Let’s Break It Down: Collection • Putting the data into another form where people can use it so they do not have to discover the things that you discovered again. • People build on other people in order to discover new things otherwise undiscoverable to their predecessors

12. Let’s Break It Down: Self-Correcting • The most important part of science • Scientists must be willing to change their minds • Evidence is the King! • Earth sat still, flies come from rotting meat • Still applies to us today- change our ideas to the adventure of science!

13. What is pseudoscience? • Pseudoscience is a claim aiming to be scientific but actually does not adhere to the scientific method. • It is doubtful and lacks substantial evidence. • The claims are often vague or exaggerated.

14. Horoscopes • Aries (3/21-4/19): Aries live life head first; after all, those horns on your head are not just for fighting. Your headstrong nature can make you a "battering ram" and woe is the person who stands in your way.  • Taurus (4/20-5/20): Taurus isn't necessarily like a Bull in a ring with a toreador. You could be more like peace-loving Ferdinand, seeking the gentle meadows filled with flowers, sunshine and natural beauty. It's only Taurus stubbornness that can make you angry enough to charge at someone who is disturbing your peace. • Gemini (5/21-6/20): Gemini go everywhere together, hand-in-hand, symbolizing your dual nature. Our world comes in pairs: good and evil, male and female, in and out, yin and yang -- and you Geminis are living proof. Some might say Gemini are an entanglement of paradoxes, but the truth is that Gemini have an easy acceptance of opposites. Gemini world is one of duality. Gemini can like this and that, one thing and its opposite. It's like you see your world through a radio and Gemini can tune experiences and points of view in and out as your interests change.

15. Cancer (6/21-7/22):Crabs live in the inter-tidal zone of the oceans, where tides rise and fall twice every day. Because of the constant change, Cancer have developed a hard outer shell for protection. Cancer can use the hard outer shell of your home as your protection. But it's more than just that. Typically, your sensitive Cancer can hold your feelings quietly behind your own walls. • Leo (7/23-8/22): The Lion is considered the king of the jungle, and likewise you Leos have an air of royalty about you. Some Leos even have hair resembling the thick mane of the Lion. But Lions are more than roar, for they are truly magnificent beasts. The Lioness proudly cares for the young, hunts and takes care of survival with relentless intent and ferocity, when needed. And proud are you Leo! Perhaps that's why Leo often chooses work that puts you in the center of stage or in the spotlight of appreciation. • Virgo (8/23-9/22): The Virgo is highly discriminating, but not necessarily as prudish at some might believe. In ancient times, a Virgin was a woman who was not the property of man, and therefore had the legal right to just say "no." Now, in modern times, you Virgos are known for your ability to be highly discriminating -- especially when it comes to matters of personal desire. When Virgo is ready, however, to say yes, the laser-like focus of your passion is anything but prudish.  • Libra (9/23-10/21): Libra is the only zodiac symbol that's neither animal nor human -- but surely that doesn't make you any less human. In fact, Libra is among the most sociable of the signs. As scales of old were really "balances," so to do you seek balance in all that Libra does. You respond to situations with grace as Libra attempts to put others at ease. Artistically, Libra tries to balance form, content, colors and elements, and for this reason can be drawn toward creative endeavors.

16. Scorpio (10/22- 11/21): The Scorpion is one intense little creature, with enough poison in its own tail to disable or kill a much larger opponent. But the problem with this kind of built-in biological weaponry is that it must be mastered in order to be used most effectively. You Scorpios can use your "stinger" for self-defense, using your powerful emotional awareness to render your opponent harmless. • Sagittarius (11/22- 12/21): The Sagittarius is really a centaur -- the lower half is horse, the upper half is a man. The man is holding a bow with an arrow aimed upwards toward the sky. This symbolizes the Sagittarius' drive to overcome basic animal instincts by aiming his thoughts into the divine realms of the heavens. In other words, Sagittarius is hunting for ideas and experiences that draw you into greater awareness. As such, Sagittarius tend to love adventure, travel and philosophy -- all ways of extending beyond your immediate surroundings.  • Capricorn (12/22- 1/19): The sure-footed Mountain Goat can climb to higher altitudes than any other mammal. And you sure-footed Capricorns are also well-suited for climbing. Capricorn sets high goals for yourself and then you overcome whatever obstacles may appear between you and the top of your personal mountain. As Capricorn climbs the ladder of success, your ambition pushes you forward. Status can be important to Capricorn and often, at the top of your game, you gain personal satisfaction by knowing that others respect you for what you have accomplished.

17. Aquarius (1/20- 2/18): The symbol for Aquarius is the Water-Bearer, a universal man who is pouring forth water from a jug. This universal man represents the community of mankind. The waters of life flow, like ideas coming from the unrestrained mind. Many people mistakenly think that Aquarius is a water sign, but it is an intellectual air sign. As such, Aquarius can be interested in concepts and ideas. Because of its universality, Aquarius can seem somewhat detached from personal emotions. It's not that you Aquarius don't have feelings; it's just that yours are different from most others. You dance to the beat of a different drummer. • Pisces (2/19- 3/20): Fish appear to be individuals, but have you ever seen a school of them swimming together? They act as one. Each is part of a greater whole. And you Pisces Fish are more aware of your interdependency than any other sign. It's as if Pisces live in an ocean and the spirit that flows through you is like the one ocean that flows through all fishes. The symbol of the Fish is also the symbol of Christianity, the predominant religion during the past two thousand years -- also known to astrologers as the "Age of Pisces."

18. Popular pseudoscientific ideas • Reflexology • Traditional Chinese medicine • Acupuncture • Aryanism • Ghost hunting • Levitation • Holocaust denial • Fengshui • Anti aging creams • The 2012 theory • Astrology • The Bermuda Triangle • Hypnosis • Ayurveda • Chiropractics • Crystal healing • Homeopathy • Laundry balls • Scientology

19. Creation Science as a Pseudoscience • Spiritual practices are not pseudoscience • Biblical and Koranic theories of evolution • The claim that the books address questions about the world confirmed years later. • Bucaillism • http://www.ted.com/talks/david_christian_big_history.html

20. Scientific Revolutions • Take place when scientists are unsatisfied with the current paradigm • In between revolutions, most scientists do not question the current theory

21. Examples of Revolutions • Geocentric to heliocentric model of the universe • Replacement of Aristotelian physics with Einstein’s theory • Replacement of Newtonian mechanics by Einstein’s theory of relativity

22. How rational is science? • Not everyone is converted to the new way of thinking • Scientists’ beliefs are influenced by the society in which they live • New ideas are completely accepted only after a new generation has grow up with the new way of thinking

23. New exists with old vs. New replaces old • Old theories aren’t always completely thrown out • We can never completely falsify nor verify a hypothesis

24. Scientific Method • Question: • Highlights what will be proven/tested • No aim without a question • Must be testable • Research: • Make sure question is viable • Gain information to form a procedure • Allows you to form a hypothesis • Hypothesis: • “Educated Guess”

25. Scientific Method (cont.) • Procedure: • Steps taken to perform experiment • Must be written clearly and descriptively • Needed for repeated attempts to minimize variables • Experiment: • Actual trial • Thought of first when “science” comes to mind • Provides practical data to answer questions

26. Scientific Method (cont.) • Analysis: • Includes charts, graphs and tables • Allows scientists to interpret data • Discover relationships, reach conclusions • Conclusions: • What have you learned from the experiment? • Answer your question using data to support claim, relate to hypothesis • Analyze lab for limitations, suggest improvements • Communicating results: • Spreading the knowledge gained to the scientific community

27. Natural Sciences and other AOKs • Ethics • Creation of the Universe • Abortion • Stem Cell Research • Genetic Engineering • What is ethical practice in science? • History • Scientific Revolutions • How certain is the knowledge we have right now? • Mathematics • Quantitative Data • Is this truly the best way to ensure scientific data is authentic?

28. Natural Sciences: Remember: Anyone Can Do Science! http://www.ted.com/talks/beau_lotto_amy_o_toole_science_is_for_everyone_kids_included.html

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