Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Reply to comment

bhealy's picture

Week 1 Reaction

 I feel like this first week of class helped me to see how science as a whole is not as stiff or fixed as I often make it out to be. I have always been more interested in my english classes than my science classes, and  I love experiencing and interpreting other people's stories. To me, science has always seemed so distant, so unapproachable, especially compared to my beloved literature, which I found myself able to jump into. However, in class on Thursday, through our discussion on how a lot of science (like the sun rising) is not considered true, but instead probable, I found that I was given a new outlook on science. The idea that evolution is not considered true, but instead a really good story that could be either true or false, caused me to really think about all of the scientific claims that I hear and all of the arguments/discussions that are going on in the world of science between different-minded scientists. For whatever reason, referring to scientific claims and controversial subjects as potentially true stories has opened my mind. Additionally, I loved the emphasis on the scientific method, and how it is not the linear, clear-cut set of steps that we learned in elementary school. Again, hearing that science is not a linear process that yields solutions but instead a looping process that yields stories, I find myself a bit more optimistic about my relationship with science. After all of these years getting through my science classes but not truly enjoying them, I feel that it is my duty to try to change my experience this semester. If I have always been captivated by stories, and hopefully the stories of science will take on new meanings for me now. 

Reply

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
3 + 2 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.