UNIT 5Perceptions of Science

Verity Ablett

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science

Lesson 1The Nature of Science

What is Science?In small groups, write 2 lists:1. What can Science do? 2.What can’t Science do?

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!

Science Knowledge SurveyFill in the survey,

A = Agree

B = Disagree

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.

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)

Astrology

Claims to be able to predict people’s personalities and life events based on the position of the stars / planets

Presented in a scientific way. There is no scientific evidence to support it There are more than 7billion people on the

planet, meaning half a billion in each star sign Any truths are correlation not causal.

Pseudo Science

Something that is presented as science, but isn’t.

Can be very believable and convincing.

Can you think of any other examples?

Cosmetics?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKXtnP2FxFY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjgCI_mpYZM

Homeopathy?

Paranormal Investigation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MoK42N5hM

Why should we trust / believe scientists?

Question:

‘’Do you believe that climate change is real?’’

Why is this question flawed?

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.

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_wkCUxOuiM

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80Lf76Ht18

‘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?)

Lesson 2 – Scientific Questions

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.

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)

Gravity

Aristotle, and Galileo made observations about motion.

Sir Isaac Newton

The Solar System

Early ideas about the Solar System included thinking the Earth was at the centre.

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…

Activity

Read ‘understanding the universe 1’ Make a timeline of early understanding Now do the same for 2,3 &4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUH334cbzg8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03MBkikLwXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyH2D4-tzfM

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.

Try to think of some:-

Answered Trying to be Answered

Will never be answered

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

Lesson 3 - Development of Scientific Theories

Science is based on observations

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?

1. What are germs?

Brainstorm Germs (microbes) Types, Diseases they cause Ways they are spread Ways they can be killed

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?

3. How long have we known? How long do you think we’ve known that

germs cause disease?

Who was Ignaz Semmelweiss?

Watch the video about Semmelweiss and how his ideas weren’t accepted for a long time:

Germ Theory

Read the factfiles on other scientists: Lister, Fleming, Pasteur, Jenner

Make a time line of understanding on Germ theory

Lesson 4: The Development of scientific theories 2

The Theory of Evolution

Starter Quiz:1. A characteristic which is beneficial for survival is

called an…

2. Dog breeds and farm animals have been developed through…

3. Other species have developed through a process called…

4. Who is most famous for their work on the theory of evolution?

5. Why did it take so long for his theory to be accepted?

6. Why is there still some resistance to the theory of evolution?

Starter Quiz:1. A characteristic which is beneficial for survival is

called an…ADAPTATION

2. Dog breeds and farm animals have been developed through… SELECTIVE BREEDING

3. Other species have developed through a process called… NATURAL SELECTION

4. Who is most famous for their work on the theory of evolution? CHARLES DARWIN

5. Why did it take so long for his theory to be accepted?

6. Why is there still some resistance to the theory of evolution?

Evolution

Did Lamarck get it wrong?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8KIvICfGEM

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…

In the beginning…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q71DWYJD-dI

Then came multicellular organisms… How?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-yMiyquG4

Class Task

Make a list of all the things somebody who doesn’t believe Evolution might say.

You don’t have to agree with them, just think of all the reasons people may have for not accepting the theory of evolution.

Are Humans Still Evolving? http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZxCn7YgYJ8

How did Humans Evolve? http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlrjNEMPSQs