Science and the Nature of Scientific Inquiry

Personal Experiences with Science

Speaker's sister developed a love for science through its relevance to her life.
Speaker has always loved science, with significant influence from participating in science fairs.
Science fairs involve students investigating a problem using the scientific method.

Common linear steps in the scientific method:
1. Observation: Notice a phenomenon.
2. Question: Formulate a question that can be investigated.
3. Hypothesis: Create a testable explanation.
4. Experiment: Plan and carry out an experiment.
5. Analysis: Analyze data (graphs, tables, etc.).
6. Conclusion: Summarize findings and reflect on the hypothesis.
Misconception: The belief that the scientific method is strictly linear.
- Reality: Scientists often revisit steps and adjust their approaches.
- Scientific methods vary widely; can include additional or omitted steps.

Observation: Gathering data through careful watching and measuring.
Inference: Logical conclusions drawn from observations.
- Example: Observing varied barnacles on a boat leading to an inference about multiple species.
Hypothesis Testing: Designing experiments to test hypotheses.

Research: Understanding barnacle species and their attachment behavior.
Control Group: A group that does not receive the treatment (e.g., no anti-barnacle additive).
Constants: Keeping other variables the same (e.g., boat models, size, environment).

Use of graphs to represent data visually.
- Independent Variable: Plotted on the x-axis (e.g., concentrations of anti-barnacle additive).
- Dependent Variable: Plotted on the y-axis (e.g., number of barnacles observed).
Mnemonic: "DRY MIX" to remember variable placement in graphs.

Science is not finished; discovery continues daily.
Science communication is vital for disseminating new knowledge.
Understanding science is important for everyone; it is a global, collaborative effort.