SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS, THEORIES, & INQUIRY

SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS, THEORIES, & INQUIRY

Competency 114.1.2: Fundamentals of Natural Science – The graduate examines fundamental concepts and theories in the natural sciences.

Introduction:

The body of scientific knowledge and understanding constantly undergoes change and refinement. Scientific discoveries and historical events have the capacity to alter our understanding of scientific concepts and the natural world.

Scientific discovery is based on observation, study, and experimentation, which in turn leads to new understanding. Theories such as the big bang are examples of a concept or phenomena in science about which what we know has changed over time based on new knowledge, understanding, and research.

Historical events, such as major natural disasters, have often led to new discoveries about our natural world, especially due to their unique capacity to yield real world data that can be further studied in the lab and field using models, simulations, smaller scale studies, etc.

In this task, you will explore specific examples of how our scientific understanding has changed over time based on research and new discoveries on (1) a concept in science, and (2) as a result of a historical event in our natural world.

Task:

A. Create a multimedia presentation (e.g. PowerPoint, Keynote) (suggested length of 8–10 slides) in which you do the following:

1. Identify a specific scientific concept or phenomenon for which our understanding has changed over time (e.g., the nature and structure of the atom, genetics, plate tectonics, evolution, the solar system, big bang, biogeography).

a. Explain how scientific discoveries have changed our understanding of that scientific concept or phenomenon over time.

b. Include three specific, sequential examples that support your explanation of how your chosen concept has changed over time based on new knowledge and understanding.

2. Identify a specific historical event that has changed our scientific understanding of an aspect of the natural world (e.g., the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the tsunami in Indonesia, the moon landing, Chernobyl disaster, Exxon Valdez oil spill, major floods, earthquakes, tornadoes).

a. Discuss the social or historical context in which the event occurred.

b. Discuss the impact that your chosen historical event has had upon our scientific understanding of an aspect of the natural world.

c. Include two specific examples that support your analysis of how this event added to or changed our understanding of science in the natural world.

B. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.
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