Principles of Science
Powerpoint Lecture
An understanding of the scientific method, experimental design, and basic principles of chemistry and physics are essential to a successful experience in environmental science. This lecture is meant to introduce the skills necessary for students to interpret and design experimental studies as well as some of the recurring basic scientific concepts that make the foundating for environmental policy decisions.
Essential concepts: Scientific method, pseudoscience, hypothesis, theory, observation, experimental group, control group, independent variable, dependent variable, prediction, natural experiment, modeled experiment, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, probability, sample size, matter, law of conservation of matter, energy, laws of thermodynamics, atomic structure, protons, neutrons, electrons, atom, molecule, compound, pH scale, acids, bases.
Test questions: Available for purchase at the environmental science instructor resources subscription page.
