An operational definition of Science
Scientist work is to understand Nature
We start by Observing Nature, usually measuring values.
These are exploratory experiments.
We study this in other courses.
The thing we study must be repetible, and we need to see that repetition.
We can find them using plots, linear models, clustering, etc.
This is the most important part.
Good answers to bad questions are useless.
Good questions are good, even if we don’t have answers
We answer these questions using models and explanations
Valid models should make predictions that we can test in the lab…
These are validation experiments.
If the results do not match the prediction, we know that the explanation is wrong. Two steps back.
Now we publish our data and model, so other scientists validate or reject it.
The final validation is to be published.
If the paper is accepted and published, our work becomes part of our shared human knowledge.
The goal of Science is to produce new Knowledge.
When we observe Nature we use our previous Knowledge
We look for new Patterns that raise new Questions.
“Noise becomes Signal”
Long term Homework
Using any recording device (paper, cell phone, etc), take note of the questions that you can ask about what you see every day
Especially about questions that you don’t know the answer
For example “Does Technology derive from Science?”
