What is Science?

As a Group

Come up with a definition of what science is.

Some definitions

sci·ence: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. Google

sci·ence: knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation. Webster

Another?Another?Science is that activity, the

underlying aim of which is to further our understanding of

why things happen as they do in the natural world.

It accomplishes this goal by applications of scientific method—the process of

observing nature, isolating a facet that is not well

understood, and then proposing and testing possible

explanations.-S. Carey, 2004

Why cant we agree?

Science is a noun but its not an object or person. (I cant point a science)

Science covers a WIDE expanse of areas. (microbiology to astronomy)

Its more of a process (scientific method) we go through to understand our universe.

Science doesn’t include everything. There are some areas that we at this time cannot detect or measure so they are not a part of science yet.

Despite the differences

There are some elements that we have in any definition of science:

Studies the natural world (process, how things change)

Utilizes the scientific method

Uses facts to develop hypothesis

Tests the hypothesis through experiments

Evidence based using observations

What is science video

http://thehappyscientist.com/science-video/what-science

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

How Telescopes have changed science.

Assignment

1) As a group write a definition of science. (you did this at the beginning of class, don’t do this again)

2) Explain why are there so many definitions of science?

3) Write the elements that are in all of these definitions.

4) Describe why it is ok for us to have varying definitions of science.

5) Write your own definition of science. (Yes you will be graded on this)