Lecture Notes: Science and Scientific Evidence in National Debates

Introduction

• Discussion on the role of science and scientific evidence in national debates.
• Overview of the scientific method and its common misconceptions.

The Scientific Method

• Purpose: To offer evidence to support theories, not to prove them.
• Misconception: Science can "prove" things (only proofs exist in logic and mathematics).
• Process: Observation, questioning, hypothesizing, prediction, testing, analyzing, and communicating findings.
• Example: Cholera outbreak and water pump hypothesis.
  • Observation: Sickness from specific water pump.
  • Hypothesis: Germs in water cause sickness.
  • Test: Remove pump handle and observe disease reduction.
  • Conclusion: Germs were the cause.
• Theory vs. Fact: Theories represent the best possible scientific explanation but are never facts.

Manipulation of Scientific Data

• Common manipulation in media and political narratives.
• Statistics: Important tool but can be misused.
  • Correlation vs. Causation: Misleading correlations (e.g., cheese consumption and engineering degrees).
  • Visualization: Misrepresented data through selective graph scales.
• Quote: "Lies, damn lies, and statistics" - Mike Twain.

Real World Examples

• Ice Melting: Misleading report on Antarctica gaining ice.
  • Omission of Greenland's ice loss leads to incomplete conclusions.
  • Overall: Global net ice loss when considering all data.

Critical Thinking and Media Literacy

• Importance of scientific and statistical literacy.
• Encouragement to read original studies:
  • Track original news reports and studies via Google Scholar.
• Bias: Exists across political affiliations.

Course Goals

• Equip students with tools to critically evaluate news and scientific claims.
• Discussion topics include power, authority, bias, and prejudice in media.

Additional Resources

• TED Talks and podcasts on politics, environment, and bias.
• Encouraged to explore topics of interest for deeper understanding.

Conclusion

• Aim: Gain a broad understanding of environmental science and critical evaluation skills.
• Final Reminder: Choose media sources wisely for credibility and objectivity.