I was in Toronto over the weekend attending the world’s first Scibarcamp. It was basically a smaller (120 people), more local and intimate version of Scifoo but equally as diverse in attendees (scientists, writers, artists, technologists, business) and in topics discussed (science 2.0; science and art; can technology make us happy?).
Eva Amsen, a NN blogger, was one of the organizers and she led a mini-session called “10 things everyone should know about science.” She asked conference-goers to write down their ideas for what everyone should know about science on some bristol board.
Here are some of my favorites:
The key ingredients are intuition and imagination.
Evolution
Observations, like opinions, are based on your frame of reference.
“Theory”, “believe”, “random” and a few other words are used differently by scientists than by the general public.
Science is a human activity. Take from that what you will.
Science is based on testable hypotheses and replication.
It’s the only way to truth and understanding.
There is a lot of uncertainty in science—and that’s ok. (that was mine)
And my favorite favorite:
Science doesn’t have to be difficult, complicated, elite or engendered.
What would you write on this bristol board?
(This has already been a topic of conversation among other bloggers, including Larry Moran, Chad Orzel and Chet Raymo.)
What? No “Science is fun!”?
Subversive.
science is communication of thoughts towards an interesting question.
Science is error correcting history
Once I get time (hopefullly this long weekend, after other deadlines are met) I will start typing out the whole process i went through with that session, but I want to write it well, so it’ll take a while.
“Science is the game we play with God to find out what His rules are”
— Cornelius Krasel
Science is a method, not a subject
Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.
Edwin Powell Hubble, The Nature of Science, 1954
Science is a method, not a subject (2)
Science is neither method nor subject alone.
Yes, of course, I forgot to write down: science is fun!
So should we say: science is both method and subject?
No experiment is complete without proper positive and negative controls, and you can’t infer a conclusion from nothing.