Nature of Scientific Debate
Week 2 Thursday

News of the Week  (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/317/5842/1158b) ENDANGERED SPECIES: U.S. Announces Recovery Plan for a Ghost Bird Erik Stokstad Critics worry that the $27 million plan to save the ivory-billed woodpecker outlined last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will mean less money for conserving other endangered species. More information: http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/

Announcements:

• Sign-up sheet for those interested in bringing in a news item to share (for a head count)

• Up-coming events you could attend for Assignment 1 (in place of news item) - see web page

• Field trip sign-ups next week

• Moodle access for the class; first quiz available after class TODAY (noon) until before class next Tuesday (9am)

Goals for Day:

• How science works - revisit the termite experiment
• FORM GROUPS!
• Be able to determine the kinds of questions scientists can & cannot address
• The role of debate in science
• Distinguish between science, non-science & pseudo-science
• Understand the different strengths that science and non-science offer to society
• Creation stories

Question 1: Discuss the best way to design scientific experiments: re-visit termite experiment.

Question 2:  How do scientists work??  (15 minutes)

What are some of the main points E.O.Wilson is trying to make in the first chapter of his book?

Address these 3 issues within your group, and be prepared to report back to the class at large:

1. "Round-robin:" What was the most interesting/intriguing thing you read in this chapter?

2. Discussion: What are some examples from the chapter of how scientists work?  Does it sound to you like a static activity?

3. Round-robin Write: (pass around a sheet of paper) What do you think was Wilson's main point in this chapter, and how might that relate to the main theme & goals of this course?

Report back to class - ALL should be prepared to answer for their group!!

Question 3: What kinds of questions can scientists address?  What kinds can they not address?

Science Questions: 

Testable questions that attempt to explain natural phenomena.

• How does pollution affect rain forest habitats?
• How does the human brain function?
• What are the behavioral habits of cheetahs?
• How does global warming affect climate patterns?  future predictions?

Non-Science Questions:

• Moral questions: Is abortion right or wrong?
• Spritual questions: What is our purpose, our reason for being here?
• Thought & emotion? - social element that can't be explained scientifically
• Religion/belief systems - can't determine which are "best"

Question 4: In Wilson's chapter 3:

• What is an example he uses of debate in science? 
• What is your perception of this debate? 
• What is the overall role of debate in science?  Are scientists just a bunch of bickering kids who can't ever agree about anything, or is there actually some useful purpose served by such debates?

Question 5: Distinguish between science, non-science, & pseudo-science.

Be able to give an example of each!