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| controversial topics in science: Communicating Science Effectively National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on the Science of Science Communication: A Research Agenda, 2017-03-08 Science and technology are embedded in virtually every aspect of modern life. As a result, people face an increasing need to integrate information from science with their personal values and other considerations as they make important life decisions about medical care, the safety of foods, what to do about climate change, and many other issues. Communicating science effectively, however, is a complex task and an acquired skill. Moreover, the approaches to communicating science that will be most effective for specific audiences and circumstances are not obvious. Fortunately, there is an expanding science base from diverse disciplines that can support science communicators in making these determinations. Communicating Science Effectively offers a research agenda for science communicators and researchers seeking to apply this research and fill gaps in knowledge about how to communicate effectively about science, focusing in particular on issues that are contentious in the public sphere. To inform this research agenda, this publication identifies important influences †psychological, economic, political, social, cultural, and media-related †on how science related to such issues is understood, perceived, and used. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversy in Science Museums Erminia Pedretti, Ana Maria Navas Iannini, 2020-04-30 Controversy in Science Museums focuses on exhibitions that approach sensitive or controversial topics. With a keen sense of past and current practices, Pedretti and Navas Iannini examine and re-imagine how museums and science centres can create exhibitions that embrace criticality and visitor agency. Drawing on international case studies and voices from visitors and museum professionals, as well as theoretical insights about scientific literacy and science communication, the authors explore the textured notion of controversy and the challenges and opportunities practitioners may encounter as they plan for and develop controversial science exhibitions. They assert that science museums can no longer serve as mere repositories for objects or sites for transmitting facts, but that they should also become spaces for conversations that are inclusive, critical, and socially responsible. Controversy in Science Museums provides an invaluable resource for museum professionals who are interested in creating and hosting controversial exhibitions, and for scholars and students working in the fields of museum studies, science communication, and social studies of science. Anyone wishing to engage in an examination and critique of the changing roles of science museums will find this book relevant, timely, and thought provoking. |
| controversial topics in science: Current Controversies in Philosophy of Science Shamik Dasgupta, Ravit Dotan, Brad Weslake, 2020-10-27 Current Controversies in Philosophy of Science asks twelve philosophers to debate six questions that are driving contemporary work in this area of philosophy. The questions are: I. Are Boltzmann Brains Bad? II. Does Mathematical Explanation Require Mathematical Truth? III. Does Quantum Mechanics Suggest Spacetime is Nonfundamental? IV. Is Evolution Fundamental When It Comes to Defining Biological Ontology? V. Is Chance Ontologically Fundamental? VI. Are Sexes Natural Kinds? These debates explore the philosophical foundations of particular scientific disciplines, while also examining more general issues in the philosophy of science. The result is a book that’s perfect for the advanced philosophy student, building up their knowledge of the foundations of the field and engaging with its cutting-edge questions. Preliminary descriptions of each chapter, annotated lists of further readings for each controversy, and study questions for each chapter help provide clearer and richer snapshots of active controversies for all readers. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversies Within the Scientific Revolution Marcelo Dascal, Victor D. Boantza, 2011-11-30 From the beginning of the Scientific Revolution around the late sixteenth century to its final crystallization in the early eighteenth century, hardly an observational result, an experimental technique, a theory, a mathematical proof, a methodological principle, or the award of recognition and reputation remained unquestioned for long. The essays collected in this book examine the rich texture of debates that comprised the Scientific Revolution from which the modern conception of science emerged. Were controversies marginal episodes, restricted to certain fields, or were they the rule in the majority of scientific domains? To what extent did scientific controversies share a typical pattern, which distinguished them from debates in other fields? Answers to these historical and philosophical questions are sought through a close attention to specific controversies within and across the changing scientific disciplines as well as across the borders of the natural and the human sciences, philosophy, theology, and technology. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversies in Science and Technology Daniel Lee Kleinman, Karen A. Cloud-Hansen, Jo Handelsman, 2014-08-01 When it comes to any current scientific debate, there are more than two sides to every story. Controversies in Science and Technology, Volume 4 analyzes controversial topics in science and technology-infrastructure, ecosystem management, food security, and plastics and health-from multiple points of view. The editors have compiled thought-provoking essays from a variety of experts from academia and beyond, creating a volume that addresses many of the issues surrounding these scientific debates. Part I of the volume discusses infrastructure, and the real meaning behind the term in today's society. Essays address the central issues that motivate current discussion about infrastructure, including writing on the vulnerability to disasters. Part II, titled Food Policy, will focus on the challenges of feeding an ever-growing world and the costs of not doing so. Part III features essays on chemicals and environmental health, and works to define safety as it relates to today's scientific community. The book's final section examines ecosystem management. In the end, Kleinman, Cloud-Hansen, and Handelsman provide a multifaceted volume that will be appropriate for anyone hoping to understand arguments surrounding several of today's most important scientific controversies. |
| controversial topics in science: Dual Use Research of Concern in the Life Sciences National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Policy and Global Affairs, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Committee on Dual Use Research of Concern: Options for Future Management, 2017-10-01 The potential misuse of advances in life sciences research is raising concerns about national security threats. Dual Use Research of Concern in the Life Sciences: Current Issues and Controversies examines the U.S. strategy for reducing biosecurity risks in life sciences research and considers mechanisms that would allow researchers to manage the dissemination of the results of research while mitigating the potential for harm to national security. |
| controversial topics in science: Lies, Damned Lies, and Science Sherry Seethaler, 2009-01-13 “Comprehensive, readable, and replete with current, useful examples, this book provides a much-needed explanation of how to be a critical consumer of the scientific claims we encounter in our everyday lives.” —April Cordero Maskiewicz, Department of Biology, Point Loma Nazarene University “Seethaler’s book helps the reader look inside the workings of science and gain a deeper understanding of the pathway that is followed by a scientific finding—from its beginnings in a research lab to its appearance on the nightly news.” —Jim Slotta, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto “How I wish science was taught this way! Seethaler builds skills for critical thinking and evaluation. The book is rich with examples that not only illustrate her points beautifully, they also make it very interesting and fun to read.” —Julia R. Brown, Director, Targacept, Inc. Don’t Get Hoodwinked! Make Sense of Health and Science News...and Make Smarter Decisions! Every day, there’s a new scientific or health controversy. And every day, it seems as if there’s a new study that contradicts what you heard yesterday. What’s really going on? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s faking it? What do scientists actually know–and what don’t they know? This book will help you cut through the confusion and make sense of it all–even if you’ve never taken a science class! Leading science educator and journalist Dr. Sherry Seethaler reveals how science and health research really work...how to put scientific claims in context and understand the real tradeoffs involved...tell quality research from junk science...discover when someone’s deliberately trying to fool you...and find more information you can trust! Nobody knows what new controversy will erupt tomorrow. But one thing’s for certain: With this book, you’ll know how to figure out the real deal–and make smarter decisions for yourself and your family! Watch the news, and you’ll be overwhelmed by snippets of badly presented science: information that’s incomplete, confusing, contradictory, out-of-context, wrong, or flat-out dishonest. Defend yourself! Dr. Sherry Seethaler gives you a powerful arsenal of tools for making sense of science. You’ll learn how to think more sensibly about everything from mad cow disease to global warming—and how to make better science-related decisions in both your personal life and as a citizen. You’ll begin by understanding how science really works and progresses, and why scientists sometimes disagree. Seethaler helps you assess the possible biases of those who make scientific claims in the media, and place scientific issues in appropriate context, so you can intelligently assess tradeoffs. You’ll learn how to determine whether a new study is really meaningful; uncover the difference between cause and coincidence; figure out which statistics mean something, and which don’t. Seethaler reveals the tricks self-interested players use to mislead and confuse you, and points you to sources of information you can actually rely upon. Her many examples range from genetic engineering of crops to drug treatments for depression...but the techniques she teaches you will be invaluable in understanding any scientific controversy, in any area of science or health. ^ Potions, plots, and personalities: How science progresses, and why scientists sometimes disagree ^ Is it “cause” or merely coincidence? How to tell compelling evidence from a “good story” ^ There are always tradeoffs: How to put science and health claims in context, and understand their real implications ^ All the tricks experts use to fool you, exposed! How to recognize lies, “truthiness,” or pseudo-expertise |
| controversial topics in science: Communicating Uncertainty Sharon M. Friedman, Sharon Dunwoody, Carol L. Rogers, 2012-10-12 Exploring the interactions that swirl around scientific uncertainty and its coverage by the mass media, this volume breaks new ground by looking at these issues from three different perspectives: that of communication scholars who have studied uncertainty in a number of ways; that of science journalists who have covered these issues; and that of scientists who have been actively involved in researching uncertain science and talking to reporters about it. In particular, Communicating Uncertainty examines how well the mass media convey to the public the complexities, ambiguities, and controversies that are part of scientific uncertainty. In addition to its new approach to scientific uncertainty and mass media interactions, this book distinguishes itself in the quality of work it assembles by some of the best known science communication scholars in the world. This volume continues the exploration of interactions between scientists and journalists that the three coeditors first documented in their highly successful volume, Scientists and Journalists: Reporting Science as News, which was used for many years as a text in science journalism courses around the world. |
| controversial topics in science: PROXY POLITICS , 2017 |
| controversial topics in science: Scientists Debate Gaia Stephen Henry Schneider, 2004 Leading scientists bring the controversy over Gaia up to date by exploring a broad range of recent thinking on Gaia theory. |
| controversial topics in science: What's So Controversial about Genetically Modified Food? John T. Lang, 2016-08-15 The rampant use of genetically modified food incites public debate among activists, ethicists, scientists, regulators, and industry representatives. While proponents portray genetic modification as scientific progress, opponents reframe it as a form of perverted science. But why is it so controversial? This timely and balanced book explores the many myths and arguments surrounding this extremely topical issue. Written in an accessible style, free of technical jargon, it examines the science behind genetic modification and the controversies that reflect ongoing tensions between social and political power, democratic practice and corporate responsibility. It shows how food is deeply imbued with religious, social, cultural and ethical meanings, which bring a variety of non-scientific debates to the forefront, and also connects GM food to other issues such as globalization of food and corporate concentration. While our modern, mechanized, centralized and globalized infrastructure produces enormous amounts and varieties of food available at our convenience, it also produces irreducible social vulnerability and undeniable uncertainty. All those who care about where their food comes from and how it is produced will enjoy this stimulating book. -- Provided by publisher. |
| controversial topics in science: Current Controversies in Philosophy of Cognitive Science Adam J Lerner, Simon Cullen, Sarah-Jane Leslie, 2023-05-31 In this volume, leading researchers debate five core questions in the philosophy of cognitive science. For each topic, the volume provides two essays, each advocating for an opposing approach. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversies in Science and Technology Daniel Lee Kleinman, Abby J. Kinchy, Jo Handelsman, 2005-05-06 Written for general readers, teachers, journalists, and policymakers, this volume explores four controversial topics in science and technology, with commentaries from experts in such fields as sociology, religion, law, ethics, and politics: * Antibiotics and Resistance: the science, the policy debates, and perspectives from a microbiologist, a veterinarian, and an M.D. * Genetically Modified Maize and Gene Flow: the science of genetic modification, protecting genetic diversity, agricultural biotech vesus the environment, corporate patents versus farmers' rights * Hormone Replacement Theory and Menopause: overview of the Women's Health Initiative, history of hormone replacement therapy, the medicalization of menopause, hormone replacement therapy and clinical trials * Smallpox: historical and medical overview of smallpox, government policies for public health, the Emergency Health Powers Act, public resistance vs. cooperation. |
| controversial topics in science: Public Engagement on Genetically Modified Organisms National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Science Education, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Life Sciences, Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences, 2015-07-07 The National Research Council's Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences held a 2-day workshop on January 15-16, 2015, in Washington, DC to explore the public interfaces between scientists and citizens in the context of genetically engineered (GE) organisms. The workshop presentations and discussions dealt with perspectives on scientific engagement in a world where science is interpreted through a variety of lenses, including cultural values and political dispositions, and with strategies based on evidence in social science to improve public conversation about controversial topics in science. The workshop focused on public perceptions and debates about genetically engineered plants and animals, commonly known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), because the development and application of GMOs are heavily debated among some stakeholders, including scientists. For some applications of GMOs, the societal debate is so contentious that it can be difficult for members of the public, including policy-makers, to make decisions. Thus, although the workshop focused on issues related to public interfaces with the life science that apply to many science policy debates, the discussions are particularly relevant for anyone involved with the GMO debate. Public Engagement on Genetically Modified Organisms: When Science and Citizens Connect summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop. |
| controversial topics in science: Scientific Controversies Dominique Raynaud, 2017-07-05 In Scientific Controversies, Dominque Raynaud shows how organized debates in the sciences help us establish or verify our knowledge of the world. If debates focus on form, scientific controversies are akin to public debates that can be understood within the framework of theories of conflict. If they focus on content, then such controversies have to do with a specific activity and address the nature of science itself. Understanding the major focus of a scientific controversy is a first step toward understanding these debates and assessing their merits.Controversies of unique socio-historic context, disciplines, and characteristics are examined: Pasteur's germ theory and Pouchet's theory of spontaneous generation; vitalism advocated at Montpellier versus experimental medicine in Paris; the science of optics about the propagation of visual rays; the origins of relativism (the Duhem-Quine problem). Touching on the work of Boudon, Popper, and others, Raynaud puts forward an incrementalist theory about the advancement of science through scientific controversies.The debates Raynaud has selected share in common their pivotal importance to the history of the sciences. By understanding the role of controversy, we better understand the functioning of science and the stakes of the contemporary scientific debates. |
| controversial topics in science: Pseudoscience Brian Regal, 2009-10-15 More than just a collection of factual entries, this rich resource explores the difference between scientific and pseudoscientific pursuits in a way that spurs readers to ask questions and formulate answers. What makes science science? How do we tell which assertions, beliefs, and methods are scientifically sound, and which are not? Brian Regal's authoritative, entertaining new reference, Pseudoscience: A Critical Encyclopedia gets at the heart of these questions by helping readers understand how the scientific method works, how to critically analyze all kinds of evidence, and how to sort through long-running myths and current pseudoscience controversies. Ranging from the dawn of history to the present and across world cultures, Pseudoscience uses a field of endless fascination as a means of driving home the importance of solid scientific reasoning. The encyclopedia spans the full spectrum of scientific and nonscientific pursuits, from chemistry, biology, psychology, and medicine to eugenics, religion, cryptozoology, the occult, and paranormal activities. Specific entries focus on general concepts of science, the lives of individuals, and claims of abilities. Throughout, these entries go beyond simply stating facts by constantly engaging readers in a discussion about the very nature of true scientific discovery. |
| controversial topics in science: Do Fish Feel Pain? Victoria Braithwaite, 2010-03-25 While there has been increasing interest in recent years in the welfare of farm animals, fish are frequently thought to be different. In many people's perception, fish, with their lack of facial expressions or recognisable communication, are not seen to count when it comes to welfare. Angling is a major sport, and fishing a big industry. Millions of fish are caught on barbed hooks, or left to die by suffocation on the decks of fishing boats. Here, biologist Victoria Braithwaite explores the question of fish pain and fish suffering, explaining what we now understand about fish behaviour, and examining the related ethical questions about how we should treat these animals. She asks why the question of pain in fish has not been raised earlier, indicating our prejudices and assumptions; and argues that the latest and growing scientific evidence would suggest that we should widen to fish the protection currently given to birds and mammals. |
| controversial topics in science: Origin Jennifer Raff, 2022-02-08 AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! From celebrated anthropologist Jennifer Raff comes the untold story—and fascinating mystery—of how humans migrated to the Americas. ORIGIN is the story of who the first peoples in the Americas were, how and why they made the crossing, how they dispersed south, and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. ORIGIN provides an overview of these new histories throughout North and South America, and a glimpse into how the tools of genetics reveal details about human history and evolution. 20,000 years ago, people crossed a great land bridge from Siberia into Western Alaska and then dispersed southward into what is now called the Americas. Until we venture out to other worlds, this remains the last time our species has populated an entirely new place, and this event has been a subject of deep fascination and controversy. No written records—and scant archaeological evidence—exist to tell us what happened or how it took place. Many different models have been proposed to explain how the Americas were peopled and what happened in the thousands of years that followed. A study of both past and present, ORIGIN explores how genetics is currently being used to construct narratives that profoundly impact Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It serves as a primer for anyone interested in how genetics has become entangled with identity in the way that society addresses the question Who is indigenous? |
| controversial topics in science: Agricultural and Food Controversies F. Bailey Norwood, Pascal A. Oltenacu, Michelle S. Calvo-Lorenzo, 2015 In Agricultural and Food Controversies: What Everyone Needs to Know, agricultural researchers present both sides of heavily debated agricultural and food issues. They answer questions and explain scholarly and scientific research on topics such as organic food, the safety of pesticides, livestock living conditions, the use of antibiotics in livestock intended for consumption, the effect of agriculture on the environment, and more. |
| controversial topics in science: On the Fringe Michael D. Gordin, 2021 Pseudoscience is not a real thing. The term is a negative category, always ascribed to somebody else's beliefs, not to characterize a doctrine one holds dear oneself. People who espouse fringe ideas never think of themselves as pseudoscientists; they think they are following the correct scientific doctrine, even if it is not mainstream. In that sense, there is no such thing as pseudoscience, just disagreements about what the right science is. This is a familiar phenomenon. No believer ever thinks she is a heretic, for example, or an artist that he produces bad art. Those are attacks presented by opponents. Yet pseudoscience is also real. The term of abuse is used quite frequently, sometimes even about ideas that are at the core of the scientific mainstream, and those labels have consequences. If the reputation of pseudoscience solidifies, then it is very hard for a doctrine to shed the bad reputation. The outcome is plenty of scorn and no legitimacy (or funding) to investigate one's theories. In this, pseudoscience is a lot like heresy: if the label sticks, persecution follows-- |
| controversial topics in science: The Case for Contention Jonathan Zimmerman, Emily Robertson, 2017-04-24 From the fights about the teaching of evolution to the details of sex education, it may seem like American schools are hotbeds of controversy. But as Jonathan Zimmerman and Emily Robertson show in this insightful book, it is precisely because such topics are so inflammatory outside school walls that they are so commonly avoided within them. And this, they argue, is a tremendous disservice to our students. Armed with a detailed history of the development of American educational policy and norms and a clear philosophical analysis of the value of contention in public discourse, they show that one of the best things American schools should do is face controversial topics dead on, right in their classrooms. Zimmerman and Robertson highlight an aspect of American politics that we know all too well: We are terrible at having informed, reasonable debates. We opt instead to hurl insults and accusations at one another or, worse, sit in silence and privately ridicule the other side. Wouldn’t an educational system that focuses on how to have such debates in civil and mutually respectful ways improve our public culture and help us overcome the political impasses that plague us today? To realize such a system, the authors argue that we need to not only better prepare our educators for the teaching of hot-button issues, but also provide them the professional autonomy and legal protection to do so. And we need to know exactly what constitutes a controversy, which is itself a controversial issue. The existence of climate change, for instance, should not be subject to discussion in schools: scientists overwhelmingly agree that it exists. How we prioritize it against other needs, such as economic growth, however—that is worth a debate. With clarity and common-sense wisdom, Zimmerman and Robertson show that our squeamishness over controversy in the classroom has left our students woefully underserved as future citizens. But they also show that we can fix it: if we all just agree to disagree, in an atmosphere of mutual respect. |
| controversial topics in science: Mindless Eating Brian Wansink, 2010 A food psychologist identifies hidden factors, motivations, and cues that cause overeating and offers practical solutions to help avoid these hidden traps and enjoy food without putting on excess pounds. |
| controversial topics in science: Clones, Cats, and Chemicals Irwin L. Slesnick, 2004 Does human cloning present a threat or an opportunity? Do common cats constitute a major threat to wildlife? Will the development of new chemical and biological weapons deter war or lead to it? If you want students to think, really think, about the science behind some of today's toughest controversies, this book will give you the facts and the framework to provoke fascinating debates. Clones, Cats, and Chemicals examines 10 dilemmas from the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, Earth science, technology, and mathematics and helps you challenge students to confront scientific and social problems that offer few black-and-white solutions. Each question is presented as a two-part unit: concise scienttific background with possible resolutions and a reference list for further teacher reading, and a reproducible essay, questions, and activities to guide students in debating and decision making. |
| controversial topics in science: Silent Spring Rachel Carson, 2002 The essential, cornerstone book of modern environmentalism is now offered in a handsome 40th anniversary edition which features a new Introduction by activist Terry Tempest Williams and a new Afterword by Carson biographer Linda Lear. |
| controversial topics in science: Acting in an Uncertain World Michel Callon, Pierre Lascoumes, Yannick Barthe, 2011-01-21 A call for a new form of democracy in which “hybrid forums” composed of experts and laypeople address such sociotechnical controversies as hazardous waste, genetically modified organisms, and nanotechnology. Controversies over such issues as nuclear waste, genetically modified organisms, asbestos, tobacco, gene therapy, avian flu, and cell phone towers arise almost daily as rapid scientific and technological advances create uncertainty and bring about unforeseen concerns. The authors of Acting in an Uncertain World argue that political institutions must be expanded and improved to manage these controversies, to transform them into productive conversations, and to bring about “technical democracy.” They show how “hybrid forums”—in which experts, non-experts, ordinary citizens, and politicians come together—reveal the limits of traditional delegative democracies, in which decisions are made by quasi-professional politicians and techno-scientific information is the domain of specialists in laboratories. The division between professionals and laypeople, the authors claim, is simply outmoded. The authors argue that laboratory research should be complemented by everyday experimentation pursued in the real world, and they describe various modes of cooperation between the two. They explore a range of concrete examples of hybrid forums that have dealt with sociotechnical controversies including nuclear waste disposal in France, industrial waste and birth defects in Japan, a childhood leukemia cluster in Woburn, Massachusetts, and mad cow disease in the United Kingdom. The authors discuss the implications for political decision making in general and describe a “dialogic” democracy that enriches traditional representative democracy. To invent new procedures for consultation and representation, they suggest, is to contribute to an endless process that is necessary for the ongoing democratization of democracy. |
| controversial topics in science: Social Science for What? Mark Solovey, 2020-07-07 How the NSF became an important yet controversial patron for the social sciences, influencing debates over their scientific status and social relevance. In the early Cold War years, the U.S. government established the National Science Foundation (NSF), a civilian agency that soon became widely known for its dedication to supporting first-rate science. The agency's 1950 enabling legislation made no mention of the social sciences, although it included a vague reference to other sciences. Nevertheless, as Mark Solovey shows in this book, the NSF also soon became a major--albeit controversial--source of public funding for them. |
| controversial topics in science: It's Debatable! Lewis Zeidler, Sami Kahn, 2014 REVERE Award Finalist, PreK-12 Learning Group, Association of American Publishers! Functional scientific literacy requires an understanding of the nature of science and the skills necessary to think both scientifically and ethically about everyday issues. -- from the introduction to It's Debatable! This book encourages scientific literacy by showing you how to teach the understanding and thinking skills your students need to explore real-world questions like these: - Should schools charge a tax to discourage kids from eating unhealthy foods? - Should local governments lower speed limits to reduce traffic fatalities? - Should pharmaceutical companies be allowed to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers? At the core of the exploration is the Socioscientific Issues Framework. The framework gives students practice in the research, analysis, and argumentation necessary to grapple with difficult questions and build scientific literacy. After introducing the concept of the framework and explaining how it aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, the book shows you how to implement it through seven units targeted to the elementary, middle, and high school levels. You even find out how to develop your own socioscientific issues curriculum. Both practical and content-rich, It's Debatable! doesn't shy away from controversy. Instead, the authors encourage you and your students to confront just how messy the questions raised by science (and pseudoscience) can be. After all, as the authors note, The only way for our students to be prepared for participation in societal discourse is to have practice in their school years, and what better place than the science classroom? |
| controversial topics in science: Parapsychology Richard Broughton, 1992-03 Discussing all aspects of the subject of parapsychology, this book describes the debates about the validity of paranormal experiences, distinguishes between what is known and what is speculation in each field and discusses research from India and Russia. Case histories are included. |
| controversial topics in science: Reproducibility and Replicability in Science National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Policy and Global Affairs, Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy, Board on Research Data and Information, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on National Statistics, Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, Committee on Reproducibility and Replicability in Science, 2019-10-20 One of the pathways by which the scientific community confirms the validity of a new scientific discovery is by repeating the research that produced it. When a scientific effort fails to independently confirm the computations or results of a previous study, some fear that it may be a symptom of a lack of rigor in science, while others argue that such an observed inconsistency can be an important precursor to new discovery. Concerns about reproducibility and replicability have been expressed in both scientific and popular media. As these concerns came to light, Congress requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conduct a study to assess the extent of issues related to reproducibility and replicability and to offer recommendations for improving rigor and transparency in scientific research. Reproducibility and Replicability in Science defines reproducibility and replicability and examines the factors that may lead to non-reproducibility and non-replicability in research. Unlike the typical expectation of reproducibility between two computations, expectations about replicability are more nuanced, and in some cases a lack of replicability can aid the process of scientific discovery. This report provides recommendations to researchers, academic institutions, journals, and funders on steps they can take to improve reproducibility and replicability in science. |
| controversial topics in science: Science, Evolution, and Creationism Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Revising Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences, 2008-01-28 How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable. In the book Science, Evolution, and Creationism, a group of experts assembled by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine explain the fundamental methods of science, document the overwhelming evidence in support of biological evolution, and evaluate the alternative perspectives offered by advocates of various kinds of creationism, including intelligent design. The book explores the many fascinating inquiries being pursued that put the science of evolution to work in preventing and treating human disease, developing new agricultural products, and fostering industrial innovations. The book also presents the scientific and legal reasons for not teaching creationist ideas in public school science classes. Mindful of school board battles and recent court decisions, Science, Evolution, and Creationism shows that science and religion should be viewed as different ways of understanding the world rather than as frameworks that are in conflict with each other and that the evidence for evolution can be fully compatible with religious faith. For educators, students, teachers, community leaders, legislators, policy makers, and parents who seek to understand the basis of evolutionary science, this publication will be an essential resource. |
| controversial topics in science: Debate Dynamics: How Controversy Improves Our Beliefs Gregor Betz, 2012-08-15 Is critical argumentation an effective way to overcome disagreement? And does the exchange of arguments bring opponents in a controversy closer to the truth? This study provides a new perspective on these pivotal questions. By means of multi-agent simulations, it investigates the truth and consensus-conduciveness of controversial debates. The book brings together research in formal epistemology and argumentation theory. Aside from its consequences for discursive practice, the work may have important implications for philosophy of science and the way we construe scientific rationality as well. |
| controversial topics in science: Science Literacy National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Science Education, Committee on Science Literacy and Public Perception of Science, 2016-11-14 Science is a way of knowing about the world. At once a process, a product, and an institution, science enables people to both engage in the construction of new knowledge as well as use information to achieve desired ends. Access to scienceâ€whether using knowledge or creating itâ€necessitates some level of familiarity with the enterprise and practice of science: we refer to this as science literacy. Science literacy is desirable not only for individuals, but also for the health and well- being of communities and society. More than just basic knowledge of science facts, contemporary definitions of science literacy have expanded to include understandings of scientific processes and practices, familiarity with how science and scientists work, a capacity to weigh and evaluate the products of science, and an ability to engage in civic decisions about the value of science. Although science literacy has traditionally been seen as the responsibility of individuals, individuals are nested within communities that are nested within societiesâ€and, as a result, individual science literacy is limited or enhanced by the circumstances of that nesting. Science Literacy studies the role of science literacy in public support of science. This report synthesizes the available research literature on science literacy, makes recommendations on the need to improve the understanding of science and scientific research in the United States, and considers the relationship between scientific literacy and support for and use of science and research. |
| controversial topics in science: Hard Questions Judith L. Pace, 2021-02-15 Teaching controversial issues in the classroom is now more urgent and fraught than ever as we face up to rising authoritarianism, racial and economic injustice, and looming environmental disaster. Despite evidence that teaching controversy is critical, educators often avoid it. How then can we prepare and support teachers to undertake this essential but difficult work? Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues, based on a cross-national qualitative study, examines teacher educators’ efforts to prepare preservice teachers for teaching controversial issues that matter for democracy, justice, and human rights. It presents four detailed cases of teacher preparation in three politically divided societies: Northern Ireland, England, and the United States. The book traces graduate students’ learning from university coursework into the classrooms where they work to put what they have learned into practice. It explores their application of pedagogical tools and the factors that facilitated or hindered their efforts to teach controversy. The book’s cross-national perspective is compelling to a broad and diverse audience, raising critical questions about teaching controversial issues and providing educators, researchers, and policymakers tools to help them fulfill this essential democratic mission of education. |
| controversial topics in science: Give Me an Answer Cliffe Knechtle, 1986-03-31 Cliffe Knechtle offers clear, reasoned and compassionate responses to the tough questions skeptics ask. |
| controversial topics in science: The Wiley Handbook of Social Studies Research Meghan McGlinn Manfra, Cheryl Mason Bolick, 2017-04-10 The Wiley Handbook of Social Studies Research is a wide-ranging resource on the current state of social studies education. This timely work not only reflects on the many recent developments in the field, but also explores emerging trends. This is the first major reference work on social studies education and research in a decade An in-depth look at the current state of social studies education and emerging trends Three sections cover: foundations of social studies research, theoretical and methodological frameworks guiding social studies research, and current trends and research related to teaching and learning social studies A state-of-the-art guide for both graduate students and established researchers Guided by an advisory board of well-respected scholars in social studies education research |
| controversial topics in science: Controversial Issues in Implant Dentistry Federico Hernández Alfaro, Hugo Campos Leitão, Cristina Porta Ferrer, Vanessa Ruiz Magaz, 2013 Dental implantology has seen a dramatic shift in the last decade for a variety of reasons including the incorporation of 3D tools for diagnosis and treatment planning, new implant surfaces and designs, bioactive materials, tissue engineering techniques, and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The combined effect of these innovations is a new paradigm of implant dentistry that is already changing the way clinicians treat edentulous patients and improving treatment options. Despite these advances within implantology, questions remain about many new techniques and developing technologies. This book focuses on the dynamic parts of this new paradigm that are still evolving-the controversial topics that are still subject to debate and that directly affect daily clinical practice. The author asks pressing questions and provides sound assessments. |
| controversial topics in science: Creation-Evolution Debates Ronald L. Numbers, 2021-10-17 Originally published in 1995, Creation-Evolution Debates is the second volume in the series, Creationism in Twentieth Century America, reissued in 2021. The volume comprises eight debates from the early 1920s and 1930s between prominent evolutionists and creationists of the time. The original sources detail debates that took place either orally or in print, as well as active debates between creationists over the true meaning of Genesis I. The essays in this volume feature prominent discussions between the likes of Edwin Grant Conklin, Henry Fairfield Osbourne and William Jennings Bryan, John Roach Francis and Charles Francis Potter, George McCready Price and Joseph McCabe and William Bell Riley versus Charles Smith, amongst many others. The collection will be of especial interest to natural historians, and theologians as well as academics of philosophy, and history. |
| controversial topics in science: The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science Scott L. Montgomery, 2017-02-21 “Enhanced with approximately 100 additional pages, this second edition is a testament to the success of the first one.” —Choice For more than a decade, The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science has been the go-to reference for anyone who needs to write or speak about their research. Whether it’s a student writing a thesis, a faculty member composing a grant proposal, or a public information officer crafting a press release, Scott Montgomery’s advice is perfectly adaptable to any scientific writer’s needs. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to address crucial issues in the changing landscape of scientific communication, with an increased focus on those writers working in corporate settings, government, and nonprofit organizations as well as academia. Half a dozen new chapters tackle the evolving needs and paths of scientific writers. These sections address plagiarism and fraud, writing graduate theses, translating scientific material, communicating science to the public, and the increasing globalization of research. Through solid examples and concrete advice, Montgomery helps scientists develop their own voice and become stronger communicators. He also addresses the roles of media and the public in scientific attitudes, and offers advice for those whose research concerns controversial issues such as climate change or emerging viruses. Today, communicators must move seamlessly among platforms and styles. The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science helps scientists and researchers expertly connect with their audiences, no matter the medium. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversial Issues in Presidential Selection Gary L. Rose, 1994-07-01 The book is designed to stimulate lively debate and critical thinking about the modern process of presidential selection. Eleven issues that impact directly on the selection of the president of the United States are examined in a scholarly and argumentative format. Essays pro and con on each issue educate students in the dynamics of presidential selection and help them evaluate competing perspectives on today's pressing issues. |
| controversial topics in science: Controversies in Exercise Science Thomas Rowland, 2018-10-09 Controversies in Exercise Science introduces a series of selected unresolved issues in the field of human exercise science. The common thread to all of these topics is that, in their ultimate resolution, they offer promise of insights into the essential principles of physiological systems and how these respond to the stresses of exercise. Each case study includes an examination of research surrounding each issue; the innovative aspect, however, will be that each of these controversies will be presented in the context of an historical and/or philosophical perspective. These chapter include topics related to basic exercise physiology, sports, physical activity, and exercise health. Underlying each of these debates lie clues which may offer insights into the basic nature of living beings. Aimed at both academics and practitioners in the fields of exercise science, biology, and related sports science disciplines, Controversies in Exercise Science provides arguments for both sides of several selected contemporary controversies in the field of exercise science and, while no ultimate resolution will be provided, the goal is, rather, to offer the reader sufficient raw material on which he or she might make their own judgement on the matters presented. |
Addressing controversial science topics in the K-12 classroom
students in the examination of controversial topics in science. Being able to reason about and act on controversial science topics is fundamental to being scientifcally literate. Learning how to teach …
Controversial or Sensitive Topics in Science Education: A …
school science transmits content that is socially sterile, impersonal, frustrating, intellectually boring, and/or dismissive of students’ life-worlds” (p. 886). Introducing controversial science topics into …
Learning to teach controversial topics - University College …
Dec 22, 2020 · Controversial topics can be used in school science teaching to help students gain a better understanding of how scientific knowledge is built up, and of the contributions of other …
Reasoning on Controversial Science Issues in Science …
Controversial science issues (CSI) encompass scientific knowledge rejected by the public as well as socioscientific issues, i.e., societal issues grounded in science that are frequently applied to …
Controversial issues in the science classroom
On a wide range of hot-button issues — from the use of stem cells in research to debates about emissions standards and climate change — partisan advocates tend to stake out their positions …
Controversies in Marine Science , MSL F605P - uaf.edu
Instructional methods: The course is a discussion of various controversial topics in marine science. Each week, students will read papers involving one specific controversy. Students will informally …
Teaching Controversial Topics Such as Evolutionary Theory
recognize that students come to controversial topics with some beliefs already formed, such as misconceptions about the logic of evolutionary theory or the belief that it contravenes their …
Controversial issues in science: Exploring the power dynamics …
Abstract: This article reflects on the implementation of critical pedagogies in a secondary school science classroom in England, in a project titled: “controversial topics in science”. It explores the …
Sharing Planetary Science: Addressing Controversial Topics
Controversial topics can come up during planetary science presentations with a variety of audiences, during family events, and even in conversations on an airplane or in an elevator. While …
Biology Instructors See Value in Discussing Controversial …
Jun 8, 2022 · We surveyed a national sample of lower-level biology instructors to determine 1) why it is important for students to learn science, 2) the perceived educational value of ideological …
Controversial Science Issues - Springer
Controversial Science Issues are scientific topics that, by their very nature, create discussions, debates, and questions because students are intrigued by these issues, question them or even …
Using Science Education Skills to Address Controversial Topics
Some of our students shield themselves against us before they ever hear a word we say. How can we—aside from building on questions that students bring to the classroom during political …
Individuals with greater science literacy and education have …
We investigate whether people with greater science knowledge and education tend to express beliefs on controversial topics that are more, or less, polarized by religious and political identity.
Climate Change and Political Controversy in the Science …
Climate change science is complex and perceived to be controversial in nature by some stakeholders. Yet from the perspective of educators and policy makers, climate change science …
Exploring Black Undergraduate Students’ Communication and …
Nov 28, 2022 · Effective communication about science is a core skill undergraduates should learn, but little research has explored how students communicate about culturally controversial science …
Polarization for controversial scientific issues increases with …
Carnegie Mellon University researchers examined predictors of Americans' beliefs about six potentially controversial issues -- stem cell research, the big bang, human evolution, genetically...
Preparing Science Teachers to Address Contentious and …
shifting science teacher preparation practices to directly address how to teach controversial science topics in ways that are culturally relevant to students. In sum the challenge for pre …
A Letter to the NABT Community: NABT Statement on Efforts …
We have become increasingly alarmed by recent efforts to ban “controversial” science concepts from textbooks and curricula. Topics on climate change, reproduction, vaccines, and other …
Knowledge overconfidence is associated with anti ... - Science …
Jul 20, 2022 · we examine seven controversial issues on which there is a substan-tial scientific consensus: climate change, GM foods, vaccination, nuclear power, homeopathic medicine, …
Scientists, Religious Experts, and other Sources of Knowledge: …
Scientific knowledge can be controversial for a variety of ways active science that is – controversial within the scientific community, societally-denied science that is widely accepted within the …
Addressing controversial science topics in the K-12 classroom
students in the examination of controversial topics in science. Being able to reason about and act on controversial science topics is fundamental to being scientifcally literate. Learning how to …
Controversial or Sensitive Topics in Science Education: A …
school science transmits content that is socially sterile, impersonal, frustrating, intellectually boring, and/or dismissive of students’ life-worlds” (p. 886). Introducing controversial science …
Learning to teach controversial topics - University College …
Dec 22, 2020 · Controversial topics can be used in school science teaching to help students gain a better understanding of how scientific knowledge is built up, and of the contributions of other …
Reasoning on Controversial Science Issues in Science …
Controversial science issues (CSI) encompass scientific knowledge rejected by the public as well as socioscientific issues, i.e., societal issues grounded in science that are frequently applied to …
Controversial issues in the science classroom
On a wide range of hot-button issues — from the use of stem cells in research to debates about emissions standards and climate change — partisan advocates tend to stake out their …
Controversies in Marine Science , MSL F605P - uaf.edu
Instructional methods: The course is a discussion of various controversial topics in marine science. Each week, students will read papers involving one specific controversy. Students will …
Teaching Controversial Topics Such as Evolutionary Theory
recognize that students come to controversial topics with some beliefs already formed, such as misconceptions about the logic of evolutionary theory or the belief that it contravenes their …
Controversial issues in science: Exploring the power …
Abstract: This article reflects on the implementation of critical pedagogies in a secondary school science classroom in England, in a project titled: “controversial topics in science”. It explores …
Sharing Planetary Science: Addressing Controversial Topics
Controversial topics can come up during planetary science presentations with a variety of audiences, during family events, and even in conversations on an airplane or in an elevator. …
Biology Instructors See Value in Discussing Controversial …
Jun 8, 2022 · We surveyed a national sample of lower-level biology instructors to determine 1) why it is important for students to learn science, 2) the perceived educational value of …
Controversial Science Issues - Springer
Controversial Science Issues are scientific topics that, by their very nature, create discussions, debates, and questions because students are intrigued by these issues, question them or even …
Using Science Education Skills to Address Controversial Topics
Some of our students shield themselves against us before they ever hear a word we say. How can we—aside from building on questions that students bring to the classroom during political …
Individuals with greater science literacy and education have …
We investigate whether people with greater science knowledge and education tend to express beliefs on controversial topics that are more, or less, polarized by religious and political identity.
Climate Change and Political Controversy in the Science …
Climate change science is complex and perceived to be controversial in nature by some stakeholders. Yet from the perspective of educators and policy makers, climate change …
Exploring Black Undergraduate Students’ Communication and …
Nov 28, 2022 · Effective communication about science is a core skill undergraduates should learn, but little research has explored how students communicate about culturally controversial …
Polarization for controversial scientific issues increases with …
Carnegie Mellon University researchers examined predictors of Americans' beliefs about six potentially controversial issues -- stem cell research, the big bang, human evolution, genetically...
Preparing Science Teachers to Address Contentious and …
shifting science teacher preparation practices to directly address how to teach controversial science topics in ways that are culturally relevant to students. In sum the challenge for pre …
A Letter to the NABT Community: NABT Statement on Efforts …
We have become increasingly alarmed by recent efforts to ban “controversial” science concepts from textbooks and curricula. Topics on climate change, reproduction, vaccines, and other …
Knowledge overconfidence is associated with anti ... - Science …
Jul 20, 2022 · we examine seven controversial issues on which there is a substan-tial scientific consensus: climate change, GM foods, vaccination, nuclear power, homeopathic medicine, …
Scientists, Religious Experts, and other Sources of Knowledge: …
Scientific knowledge can be controversial for a variety of ways active science that is – controversial within the scientific community, societally-denied science that is widely accepted …
