Meets Science Real Life 1 Science Meets Real Life: Unit 10 Final Project Lashundra T. Jones Kaplan University SC300-09 Professor Morris December 5, 2010 Science Meets Real Life 2 Science Meets Real Life: Unit 10 Final Project With life you never know what to expect, a famous actor once quoted in a movie Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you will get. (Forrest Gump, 2000). That was an understatement if you were to ask me! But what most individuals dont realize is that life and science go hand and hand. We use reasoning to denote certain things about people or places. We even use the scientific method to solve everyday problems without even realizing it. Take a look at two of my life scenarios and see how I applied the scientific method to each of these problems and came up with my solution. After that we will take a ride and see why I cannot live with or without science. So hold this should be an interesting journey. As I started my entrance into my home one night after getting off late to find that the light to the front room would not come on. I asked myself two questions; why did the light not come on and what could be wrong with it? Here is where we use the scientific method in our lives without even giving it a second thought. After I asked those two questions I had to do some research and come up with a few good reasons or in science terms (construct a hypothesis) as to why the light did not come on. After careful consideration I came up with two hypotheses that needed to be tested. My first hypothesis was to check the light bulb to see if it needed to be change. After removing the light bulb and doing the infamous shake that we do to see if a bulb is still good I noted that it was bad so I proceed to change it. Once I changed the bulb I noticed that the light still would not come on. I had to go back to the beginning and try my other hypothesis which is to check the circuit breakers. After I fumbled my way through the front room and back out to the garage where the breaker box was, I checked it for any tripped fuses. And to my surprise no fuses had been tripped. So what was the problem? After going back into the house I thought about everything that I had tried and then I tried to think about what else could possibly Science Meets Real Life 3 be wrong. Then a light bulb came on in my head and I came up with a hypothesis that I needed to check the rest of the house. After a quick survey I noticed everything was blacked out. The microwave, DVD player, the stereo and to confirm things the refrigerator all were out. I immediately call the power company with thoughts of me forgetting to pay the bill in my head. Once I reached customer service it was reported to me that a tree fell on a power line and knocked the power out for the whole neighborhood. Another instance of when I used the scientific method to solve a problem in my life was when my department was trying to develop a sound process for securing test materials. Since the securities of test have become an issue especially with students answer sheets and employees forging answers, it was imperative that on our end we had sound security procedures. When it came that the validity of a certain test had been compromised due answers being changed we decided to go to the drawing board and come up with ideas that could assist us in the handling of secure items. We presented the question How to secure testing documents? The next step was to do research to see if we could pinpoint where and if there were gaps in the process that was in place already. We notice that schools were still staying that they had not received materials or materials were in too many peoples hand. So what we did was created a warehouse sheet that listed the schools and the materials in which they were to receive. At first it seems to be having a positive outcome, nothing was getting lost and everything seemed to be in order. And then one day we did not receive testing materials back from a couple of schools and no one could account for who picked them up or anything. We went back to the drawing board and decided to keep the warehouse sheet but to add a spot for the name of the sender and their signature. We also added a pick up or drop off time slot so that way we would know who received or shipped the materials as well as what time the transfer of ownership took place. We also eliminated third Science Meets Real Life 4 party drop offs making the material have only one handler between the schools and our office. This process has been in effect for a year now and it is wonderful. All materials are easily accounted for and if some stated that they did not receive something we have paper trails that shows who signed for them and what time they were delivered or picked up. Eliminating the third party drop offs have also helped eliminate the possibility or thought of answer documents being tampered with by a school official because they can no longer transport secure items themselves. All items must be picked up and dropped off by a designated courier and no exception. So here we are, trying to think our days and what we do with them. A typical day for me starts at 4:15am with a trip to the gym for an hour and a half work out that includes two thirty minute sessions of cardio and forty five minutes of working on abdominals and free weights. After the gym it was back home to wake my son and get him ready for school as well myself ready for work. I usually cook him a quick breakfast such as oatmeal or turkey bacon with boiled eggs or we grab some yogurt and fruit and head out the door. I then drive him to school and head to work afterwards. While work at a number of things can take place, either we are processing test materials, doing trainings or attending trainings ourselves. When it is slow in my office, I do a lot of my reading and posting for class. I also take the time to do research if need be for anything. Once Im caught up on work and homework, I usually surf the internet for a couple of minutes or two and catch up on my sports as well as whats going on in the world. After work I headed to pick my son up from my in-laws house and we stop by my daughters house to see my grand-daughter. After that we head home so my son can change into his practice uniform and then head to whatever sport is in season at the time. After practice we head home to cook and eat dinner and finish whatever homework he did not finish at his grandparents house. After dinner, Science Meets Real Life 5 we clean the kitchen back and head for the shower. My son and I will talk for a brief spell before I work on my homework some more and by 11:30 I am sound asleep. Science impacts my routine from the time my alarm clock goes off to the time I go to sleep. The chemicals that are used to preserve my bacon or the technique that is used to make yogurt are all ways science impacts my every day routine. Did you know that yogurt is like one big experiment? It has to have specific bacteria added to milk and is sat in a controlled environment to ferment (WiseGeek.com). Looking at the news for the weather forecast is another way science impacts my routine throughout the day. Since meteorology is a science and we use it when we are planning our days, weeks and even vacations. Without science we could not have technologies that I used to get to work. Just the car I drove to work is a marvel of science at its best. Or even the airplanes that people take to go on business trips or vacations are all impacted by science. The last thing that I feel is impacted in my daily routine by science would be my clothes the chemical compositions that is made up in the dyes along has a huge impact. If it was not for science we would not have the beautiful colors in our clothing nor the hair spray or gel and especially the shampoo and conditioner that we as women use to beautify ourselves. Science has improved the quality of my life by enabling scientist to develop my much needed sinus medicine. Because of science I can now chat with my husband when he is away due to work. Science has improved the quality of my life by the invention of quick food because with the day that I have sometimes all I want to do is just hit the bed. With quick food like Ramen Noodles I can get a little rest because my son knows how to make those in the microwave. Science has and probably will continue to improve the quality of my life through the inventions of things such as Hi-Def television, face to face video chats on our cell phones and new ways to preserve food. Without science I would not be able to learn more about the society around us and more about our world Science Meets Real Life 6 that we live in There are numerous negative impacts that science has had on society. One of the most negative impacts would have to be the nuclear bomb. This was a weapon of mass destruction and was use for such purpose. Although an Italian scientist by the name of Enrico Fermi was trying to create a new element above uranium, it was later discovered by other scientist that he had not actually found a new element but instead split the uranium atom into two thus causing the destructive power that is seen in the nuclear bomb (PBS.org, 2010). Other negative impacts that science has had are the pollution that comes from cars as well as refineries. These toxins or pollutions are stirred many concerns about global warming and have cause us to rethink our carbon footsteps. It is noted that global warming could possibly impact tropical species such as important insect that are use for certain things (E science News.com, 2010). Now a days Im not so sure if I can survive without science. I feel that insects have evolved thus what use to be harmless is now harmful. Insects carrying harmful bacterias such as malaria can be devastating without science to produce a cure. Without science things like the Scarlet flu or a common cold could wipe thousands of humans off the face of the earth. Science has made our way of living easier from the revolution of microwaves to cell phones. I truly see that science has a part in all that we do. Taking this course has helped open my eyes to the possibilities that science presents. Since science is such an open field and it takes an open mind to relate to the constant changes even when something is proven true, this course has helped me understand that if left open there is room for change, for improvement. My view has done a complete 360 because I now analyze a lot of the things I do. I also see that I had been using the scientific method all the time in Science Meets Real Life 7 everyday events that occurred in my life. I will never take science for granted anymore. References Science Meets Real Life 8 E Science News.com, 2008, Global Warming Will Negatively Impact Tropical Species, Published: Monday, May 5, 2008 - 16:21 in Earth & Climate, Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/05/05/global.warming.will.negatively.impact.t ropical.species PBS.org, 2010, A Science Odyssey, People and Discoveries: The first atomic bomb is detonated 1945, Retrieved December 5, 2010 from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/ dp45at.html WiseGeek.com, 2010, How Is Yogurt Made, Retrieved December 9, 2010 from: http://www.wisegeek.com/how-is-yogurt-made.htm