What Is Science?

1. What Is Science? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

2. Investigate and understand nature Explain events in nature Make useful predictions Never stop questioning Goals of Science

3. An organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world. The body of knowledge that scientists have built up after years of testing proposed explanations. Definition of Science

4. The first step to “doing” science Involves using one or more of the senses Sight Hearing Touch Smell Taste Observations

5. Will raise a question. Observations

6. To gather… Information Evidence Data Observations

7. Follows an observation A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience Uses what you know to figure something out  Inference

8. Inference Observation or Inference? There are two dogs. The little dog stole the big dog’s bed. The big dog is in the little bed. The little dog is mad. The big dog is sleeping. The little dog is in a big bed. There are two dog beds. There is a chair by the dog beds. The dogs are not allowed in the chair. The dogs are friends. The big dog is happy. The little dog is gray. The little dog is old.

9. Observation or Inference? Can we make the same assumptions (Inferences based on observations) about this picture as we did the last one?

10. Observations and Inferences Observation: ___________________Inference:Owls live in treesObservation:The owl has wings,Inference:___________________ Owl perched in tree Owls can fly

11. Hypothesis • A tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event • Attempts to explain a set of observations • May arise from logical inferences

12. Hypothesis • Uses prior knowledge • Is an educated guess or a trial answer • Is a testable statement which may include a prediction

13. Science helps us to understand the world around us and to appreciate it's complexities It underlies our health, our work, our communications, our entertainment and our transport It permeates our lives and informs our actions Science is a way of thinking, fun, dynamic, constantly changing Importance of Science

14. Science contributes to our understanding of health and disease and enables medical progress It shows us our impact on the environment and our world It empowers us to make technological advancements As scientific knowledge grows, so does our understanding of the universe Importance of Science

15. What Science Isn’t • Scientific knowledge is not the absolute truth • It is based only on available evidence • It is subject to modification in light of new evidence and new ways of thinking • Science is limited to the study of the natural world and cannot study or explain supernatural events

16. A Unique Endeavor • What three things make science different from other human endeavors? • It deals only with the natural world • Scientists collect and organize information in a careful, orderly way, looking for patterns and connections between events • Scientists propose explanations that can be tested by examining evidence

17. A Good Scientist: • What qualities make for a good scientist? • Curious • Honest • Open minded • Persistent • Skeptical • Patient and careful • Recognize limitations of science • Believe in cause and effect • Concern for mankind

18. http://www.unit5.org/biology/gallery1.htm