...People against the Earth: Cycle of melting of ice caps in the environment It is very shocking to see how many people do not have the knowledge or the interest to educate themselves about one of the biggest issues of the Earth. There are many articles about the climate change in general, but this essay will answer a question what are the effects of melting ice caps on climate change? Firstly what is global warming and what is climate change? Global warming is just the Earth’s rising surface temperature and climate change is a bigger category and global warming is one part of its category. In another words global warming is one issue of a much larger problem of human caused climate change. Both of them are a commonly talked about issue among scientists since it causes many changes in the environment including the melting of ices which has an effect on all parts of the world. Because of the sea level rising there are, even if it is not a rapid increase, many devastating effects on land habitants, and also there is a threat of the next ice age. Firstly the melting of polar ice caps can affect countries, as continents. A lot of parts of the “now known” continents would totally disappear under the ocean; which would mean that people that live there now, would lose their homes and the number of people per square foot would rise rapidly. The sunk parts of the countries would affects also the fauna and flora. It is clear that many species are dying out now and also...
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...The climate change war. “Is global warming indeed caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases or by natural variations”? (Pigliucci, M. (2010), 134) The controversy is that global warming is not just a scientific matter, it also correlates with sociology, individual’s lifestyle, but above all, politics. (Maslin, Mark (2004) Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: OUP.) According to Pigliuci [Pigliucci, M. (2010), 141] Since science is constantly changing with their predictions, how do we know that it will not change again? He goes on to say that this is what we call dishonest play on widespread public misunderstanding in the process of science, in which revision in previous results is not only normal, but also mistrust of scientific expertise overall. With that being said, how can we determine what is the proper scientific position on Global Warming/Climate Change? How can non-scientist evaluate the evidence and choose which experts to believe, also how to detect and evaluate the effect of political/economic pressures on scientific conclusions. Do Not Throw Away Your Kids, Protect the Planet and Recycle Them The skepticism of global warming has been a constant ongoing war for quite some time based on its uncertainty. Human activities is what causes the change in the Earth’s climate is just merely a scientific opinion. Basically the scientist leverage on global warming is this: “Without substantial disagreement, scientists find human activities are heating the...
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...study of science and technology includes both processes and bodies of knowledge. Scientific processes are the ways scientists investigate and communicate about the natural world. The scientific body of knowledge includes concepts, principles, facts, laws, and theories about the way the world around us works. Technology includes the technological design process and the body of knowledge related to the study of tools and the effect of technology on society. Science and technology merge in the pursuit of knowledge and solutions to problems that require the application of scientific understanding and product design. Solving technological problems demands scientific knowledge while modern technologies make it possible to discover new scientific knowledge. In a world shaped by science and technology, it is important for students to learn how science and technology connect with the demands of society and the knowledge of all content areas. It is equally important that students are provided with learning experiences that integrate tools, knowledge, and processes of science and technology. The Science and Technology Standards outline the essential understandings of these disciplines. Standard A describes four themes that serve as a broad scaffold for understanding and organizing student understanding of the content and processes of science and technology. Standard B describes the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design. As a...
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...Will those actions work? The issues before world leaders range from short-term economic recovery necessitated by the failure of capital markets, to long term survival of humans on the planet earth challenged by climate change and ecological systems, natural resources, and population growth. Potential consequences for world societies and civilizations are enormous. World leaders need confidence that they can predict outcomes when they implement their plans. They cannot manage their policies without prediction. W. Edwards Deming tells us that management is prediction (Rienzo, 1993). How does the human mind find confidence in predictions? From where does confidence come? Confidence comes from knowing the systems we are attempting to manage. The purest expressions of knowledge that we have as human beings are scientific laws. Scientific laws allow scientists to predict outcomes with certainty when they engineer physical structures, mechanical technologies, or chemical/biological reactions. Can political and business leaders use processes similar to the ones that produce scientific laws to address the most pressing issues of world societies? The perspective of physicist Nancy Cartwright offers some insight. Truth is Relative Wherever it is Found Scientific laws come as...
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...sciences, most scientific disciplines have to bend and adapt these rules, especially sciences involving the unpredictability of natural organisms and humans. In many ways, it is not always important to know the exact scientific method, to the letter, but any scientist should have a good understanding of the underlying principles. In many ways, if you are going to bend and adapt the rules, you need to understand the rules in the first place. Empirical Science is based purely around observation and measurement, and the vast majority of research involves some type of practical experimentation. This can be anything, from measuring the Doppler Shift of a distant galaxy to handing out questionnaires in a shopping center. This may sound obvious, but this distinction stems back to the time of the Ancient Greek Philosophers. Cutting a long story short, Plato believed that all knowledge could be reasoned; Aristotle that knowledge relied upon empirical observation and measurement. This does bring up one interesting anomaly. Strictly speaking, the great physicists, such as Einstein and Stephen Hawking, are not scientists. They generate sweeping and elegant theories and mathematical models to describe the universe and the very nature of time, but measure nothing. In reality, they are mathematicians, occupying their own particular niche, and they should properly be referred to as theoreticians. Still, they are still commonly referred to as scientists and do touch upon the scientific method in that...
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...Title: Colligative Properties Cathy Stone Western Governor’s University Reflection: Reflect on the important scientific practices (1) Constructing Explanations and (2) Using Mathematics, Information and Computer Technology, and Computational Thinking by doing the following: 1. Define each of the two scientific practices. Typically, students have the mentally that if they memorizes the facts for any subject area, they should be able to pass any class. However, that is not the case in most academic settings. There are two important scientific practices, (1) Constructing Explanations and (2) Using Mathematics, Information and Computer Technology, and Computational Thinking, that are critical for student success in a science...
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...Is it dangerous for Politics to define Science? Political discourses entail following cultural and unwritten behaviors, which in most cases are driven by organizational and personal agendas, aimed at attaining particular objectives. The need to practice politics effectively has led to the emergence of political science, which covers the study of governments, political systems and process, and political policies. On the other hand, science refers to a methodical approach that is used in understanding the natural world (McLelland 1). Science is one of the most fundamental disciplines that can be relied upon in an effort to transform the society through effective decision-making. This observation arises from the fact that, science leads to the formulation of scientific theories, which are comprehensive and well-integrated set of facts. The objective of this paper is to analyze if there are any dangers to this effect. The credibility of scientific ‘facts’ arises from the construct that, the facts are repeatedly tested and accepted, thus increasing their effectiveness in making predictions on certain natural phenomena. McLelland posits, “Science is a human endeavor, which subjects it to bias, misapprehensions, and personal prejudices” (4). This argument is in line with the assumption that humans can accurately observe and measure a given phenomenon in an effort to understand the universe. However, the conclusions arrived at by humans is limited by how effective they can make sense...
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...TMA 06 Investigating the mathematical and scientific thinking of children’s concepts on the floating and sinking of various objects. ABSTRACT The purpose of this small scale study was to observe how children apply mathematical and scientific reasoning to various objects that sink or float. The study was designed to test the hypotheses that social interaction is related to cognitive change, that children progress through developmental stages in an understanding of science. Two children were used for the investigation a boy aged eleven and a girl aged six. The data was collated from video-recorded tasks. The participant’s predictions and explanations were coded. Findings revealed that when the children experienced cognitive conflict or were challenged by the researcher this could cause conceptual change, leading to a developmental progression in the children’s scientific thinking. INTRODUCTION Considerable research exists on the mathematic and scientific thinking of children. Selly, N (1993) proposed a developmental progression of children’s scientific understanding, relating to floating and sinking. Selly argues that young children have a very practical view of buoyancy. As children realise that their explanations are insufficient, they progress through a series of what Selley termed Hypotheses from 1, 1A,2,3,and 4. Cognitive changes in the development of mathematical and scientific concepts are Piaget’s discovery learning, this occurs when children are lone learners...
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...better understand our species. Understanding what is normal and abnormal can enable researchers the ability to aid individuals in reaching or maintain healthy behavior. Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that includes a broad range of factors from depression and obsession-compulsion to bipolar and schizophrenic. Understanding abnormal behavior begins with understanding what is normal. Each individual can have different normal and abnormal behavior but society has an overall standard for abnormal behavior. Abnormal psychology is represented by theoretical models including the psychosocial, biological/medical, and sociocultural theory. The overall study of abnormal psychology has evolved from a curious mind to a scientific discipline. Origins of Abnormal Psychology “Abnormal psychology has experienced tremendous change, progress, and controversy over the roughly 100 years it has existed as a field of study” (Hansell & Damour, 2008, p. 3). The earliest known studying of abnormal psychology included mental illness with the amistic/spiritual approach. With this view the practice of boring holes in the skull was used to release evil spirits causing the behavior. Another past treatment for abnormal behavior was Dr. Weir Mitchell’s rest cure that involved two months of bed rest, seclusion, a diet of red meat and milk, and massage. Before Dr. Mitchell’s time, around 460 B.C., a Greek physician named Hippocrates had a theory that began the scientific evolution of abnormal psychology...
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...foundational concepts with your scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. This section tests your understanding of the ways psychological, social, and biological factors influence perceptions and reactions to the world; behavior and behavior change; what people think about themselves and others; the cultural and social differences that influence well-being; and the relationships between social stratification, access to resources, and well-being. The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section emphasizes concepts that tomorrow’s doctors need to know in order to serve an increasingly diverse population and have a clear understanding of the impact of behavior on health. Further, it communicates the need for future physicians to be prepared to deal with the human and social issues of medicine. This section is designed to • • • • • test psychology, sociology, and biology concepts that provide a solid foundation for learning in medical school about the behavioral and sociocultural determinants of health; test concepts taught at many colleges and universities in first-semester psychology and sociology courses; test biology concepts that relate to mental processes and behavior that are taught at many colleges and universities in introductory biology; test basic research methods and statistics concepts described by many baccalaureate faculty as important to success in introductory science courses; and require you to demonstrate your scientific inquiry and reasoning, research...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix B Fundamentals of Biology Worksheet You are beginning a journey in the world of biology. Completing this worksheet will prepare you with the background knowledge necessary for understanding this world! What Are the Major Theories of Biology? The major theories of biology have been tested over years and provide information helping you to understand the science of biology. For each theory, list the name of the person or persons known for scientifically testing each theory, the approximate date they experimented with the theory, and a sentence or two to describe the theory. Bioenergetics: Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier Late 18th century Chemistry of Life was placed in a context of a larger understanding of chemistry and energetic. Biological classification: Carolus Linneaus late 18th century Organisms are classified according to their similarities and differences. Cells: Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann beginning of the 17th century All organisms are made of cells and all cells are made of preexisting cells. Ecosystems: no identifiable parent but a group of people- 20th century Organisms interact with each other and other things in their environment and changes in their environment change other things as well. Everything works together to keep that environment going right. Evolution by natural selection: Charles Darwin- mid 19th century Species are able to evolve over time and only the strongest will...
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...Midterm 1 Notes * Anthropological Approaches to Understanding Evolution * What is Anthropology? * the study of culture * the study of humans * the study of humans and human behavior * the study of culture among different people and places * the study of global cultures and the comparisons between the various differences * It incorporate culture, including language, social practice, religion, etc. * the study of culture…it can be scientific, humanistic and based on observation * the study of humans in all parts of the world…it combines several fields into a holistic view * the study of humankind in all time and places * Anthropology is: 1. A Social Science * Academic discipline concerned with society and the relationships among individuals within a society, which often reply primarily on empirical approaches 2. Studies Culture * Culture is composed of ideas, values and perceptions * Culture is not instinctual, it must be learned and shared * Culture only exists within a society or group of people * Culture is a human adaptation to their environment 3. Holistic * The various parts of human culture and biology must be viewed in the broadest possible context in order to understand their interconnections and interdependence * Cultural Anthropology * The study of patterns of human behavior, thought and emotions, focusing on humans as culture-producing and culture-reproducing creatures ...
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...Plaines, Ill. Stephen R. Mattox Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich. Steve Boyer Tacoma, Wash. Jo Laird University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. Cover image: A basalt dike cuts through rocks of Permain age on Wasp Head, NSW Australia. Photo by Gary B. Lewis. Table of Contents What is Science? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Scientific Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Observation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hypothesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fact: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hypothesis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Scientific Theory (or Law): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Science...
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...concern about carbon dioxide and global warming is a modern preoccupation driven by the attention of high-profile personalities, politicians and green activists. But Al Gore did not discover global warming. Nor did Tim Flannery, Peter Garrett, Greenpeace or Malcolm Turnbull. Scientific concern about global warming is not new. A single scientific paper, published more than three decades ago, can place the discussions about climate change into historical perspective. Tomorrow it will be 35 years since the leading science journal Nature published a review paper entitled "Man-made carbon dioxide and the 'greenhouse' effect", by the eminent atmospheric scientist J. S. Sawyer, director of research at the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. In four pages, Sawyer summarised what was known about the role of carbon dioxide in enhancing the natural greenhouse effect leading to warming at the earth's surface, and made a remarkable 28-year prediction of the warming expected to the end of the 20th century. His prediction can now be compared with what has been observed. We can also compare his review of the science in the early 1970s with that in the latest (2007) assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. After summarising recent calculations of the likely impact of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on global surface temperature, Sawyer concluded that the "increase of 25 per cent in carbon dioxide expected by the end of the century therefore corresponds to an...
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...concern about carbon dioxide and global warming is a modern preoccupation driven by the attention of high-profile personalities, politicians and green activists. But Al Gore did not discover global warming. Nor did Tim Flannery, Peter Garrett, Greenpeace or Malcolm Turnbull. Scientific concern about global warming is not new. A single scientific paper, published more than three decades ago, can place the discussions about climate change into historical perspective. Tomorrow it will be 35 years since the leading science journal Nature published a review paper entitled "Man-made carbon dioxide and the 'greenhouse' effect", by the eminent atmospheric scientist J. S. Sawyer, director of research at the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. In four pages, Sawyer summarized what was known about the role of carbon dioxide in enhancing the natural greenhouse effect leading to warming at the earth's surface, and made a remarkable 28-year prediction of the warming expected to the end of the 20th century. His prediction can now be compared with what has been observed. We can also compare his review of the science in the early 1970s with that in the latest (2007) assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. After summarizing recent calculations of the likely impact of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on global surface temperature, Sawyer concluded that the "increase of 25 per cent in carbon dioxide expected by the end of the century therefore corresponds to an increase...
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