Suchergebnisse

"There is a limited understanding amongst scientists, students and the public about realizing trust in scientific findings. This should be a paramount objective, or is it only about career ambition? What is the role of the individual? Scientists and the public need to know more about the link between the philosophy of science and the science research methods. There is a limited understanding of why accuracy is important and that it is not the same as precision. Also, there is often the need to measure an approximation of a real system and the classic case is reductionism in biology versus whole organism biology. The author brings these topics together in terms of trusting in science"--

"The first in the Focus Series on Global Science Education, The Whys of a Scientific Life examines why scientists do what they do. Working from a diverse background in scientific research, including academic departments of physics and chemistry as well as the scientific civil service, the author describes the choices scientists make. Fundamentally, a scientist asks questions based on curiosity. In addition, the environment is very important. By influencing their elected governments, society itself shapes the scientific research that is undertaken by scientists. This book follows on naturally from the author's last book, Skills for a Scientific Life, which is a how-to guide for scientists and those that aspire to engage in science as a career"--

Contents Preface Acknowledgements About the Author Part I Introduction 1 What Is the Scientific Life? 2 What Is Physics? 3 What Is Chemistry? 4 What Is Biology? Part II Scientific Career Choices: What to Do When Faced With ... 5 Junctions 6 Crossroads 7 Roundabouts 8 Traffic Lights 9 Obstacles 10 Mountains Part III Examples of What Science Delivers or Will Deliver in the Future 11 With Physics We Can See Atoms 12 Acceleration of Chemical Reactions by Catalysts: A Wonder of the Natural World 13 Understanding Colour: Paintings, Camouflage, Clothes and Cosmetics 14 The Universe Exists and the Big Bang 'Start' of the Universe: The 'Red Shift' and the Expansion of the Universe 15 Is There Life Elsewhere in the Universe? The Role of the Square Kilometre Array Radio Astronomy Project 16 Predicting Climate Change on Earth Part IV Science and Mathematics: Across the Disciplines and Side by Side With Engineering 17 Science and Mathematics: Newtonian Dynamics and Molecular Dynamics 18 Science across the Disciplines: Curiosity Respects No Science Subject Boundaries 19 Science Side by Side with Engineering Part V Science Is a Process 20 Successes Involve Striving to Avoid Failures in Science Part VI A Trend: The Coming Together of the Sciences and the Social Sciences 21 The International Council for Science: A Very Important Event Appendices My Reviews of Books Regarding the Whats of a Scientific Life Appendix A1: The Social Function of Science, by J. D. Bernal Appendix A2: The Effective Scientist: A Handy Guide to a Successful Scientific Career, by Corey J. A. Bradshaw Appendix A3: Scientific Leadership, by J. W. (Hans) Niemantsverdriet and Jan-Karel Felderhof Appendix A4: Managing Science: Developing Your Research, Leadership and Management Skills, by K. Peach Appendix A5: Writing Chemistry Patents and Intellectual Property: a Practical Guide, by Francis J. Waller Appendix A6: The Scientific Method: Reflections from a Practitioner, by M. di Ventra