"Understanding Science," a Web site funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), offers a window to a better understanding about how dynamic and creative the scientific process really is.
"Understanding Science" Web site, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Not Just a Guy in a White Coat
News story originally written on February 26, 2009
Can you tell the difference between anecdotes and tested ideas? Do you know what science is and what it is not? To make sense of the world today, it’s important to understand science.
You may have heard that scientists follow a defined process called the scientific method when they go to tackle a problem: Ask a question, form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, collect data and draw a conclusion. But science is much more than those steps. It’s dynamic and creative. That’s what a new Web site called Understanding Science seeks to explain.
Instead of the five-step scientific method, there is an interactive chart showing how science works: the many motivations leading to exploration and discovery; the ways that ideas are tested out; the role of teamwork, analysis and feedback; and possible benefits and outcomes that result from making science happen.
The Web site illustrates what science is and how it works using real-life examples--from the structure of DNA to advances in fueling technology to the discovery of insulin. The site even offers a chance to consider whether pursuits like astrology are, or are not, science.
Understanding Science is designed for the general public and educators. Links to teacher resources include resources targeted to primary, middle school, high school and undergraduate-level educators.
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Issues of NESTA's quarterly journal, The Earth Scientist are also full of classroom activities on different topics in Earth and space science!
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