GEO 102 Lecture 1 Outline of Last Lecture I What is Science Outline of Current Lecture II Science A Definition of Science III Hypothesis a Definition of a hypothesis IV Theory a Definition of a theory V Predictions a Quantitative predictions b Historical science VI Jargon and Uniformitarianism a Definition of uniformitarianism Current Lecture Science is a method of knowing science always starts with a problem it is very important a way of knowing epistemology based on measured observations of natural phenomenon leads to explanatory hypotheses proposed upon the framework of a pre existing theory which are tested through experiments for further measured observations theories the best most complete understanding of a natural phenomenon that humans possess The fundamental framework of humans understanding of the universe Hypothesis These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena and that can be tested by further investigation similar to a model Theory a well substantiated testable explanation of some aspect of the natural world an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena this is absolutely not an assumption guess or hunch based on limited information or knowledge Predictions quantitative predictions better for assessing an experimental prediction hard to agree on some observations measuring things with as little ambiguity as possible is critical numbers help and rigorous logic can be applied to numbers through equations equations can describe the world this is also true for experimental and historical science historical science not just the here and the now but the every time Jargon a way of limiting ambiguity and saving time use obscure words because they want to use words that all scientists know so that everyone is on the same page different parts of the world have different names for things so scientists make names that all scientists understand no matter what part of the country you are from Uniformitarianism a fundamental assumption explicit in historical science this is implicit in all other science and in all human action the processes that function today have functioned in the same manner for all time and will continue to function in the future Science everyone does science work in big universities but mostly in the private sector for profit scientists that work at universities do science for public use and public knowledge and the money comes from federal sources Where do they get the money private sector public scientists get money in grants from the government non profit organizations businesses all grants have overhead pays the university Some grants help pay for scholarships
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