Education About�‘Nature of Science’

Internal & External Influences on Nature of Science

A STEPWISE Teacher Resource

Instructions

This resource can be used to help students develop their critical thinking, science literacy, and STSE skills. Students will have opportunities to address conceptions about the Nature of Science while still achieving government (e.g., Ontario) curriculum expectations.

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The progression of the lesson is as follows:

1. Students Reflect
2. Teacher Teaches
3. Student Activity

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Learning Goals

• Students will practice metacognitive skills through reflecting on their own conceptions of science & research
• Students will grow their understandings of what is Nature of Science and internal and external influences that impact how science is conducted
• Students will be able to describe and apply knowledge of internal and external influences of science to a case study (Climate Change)

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Part 1: Students Reflect

Activity - Sketch, Draw, and/or Write what comes to mind.

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What is Science?

Activity - Sketch, Draw, and/or Write what comes to mind.

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What is Research?

The Activity Revealed Some Conceptions and Assumptions about Science

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Part 2: Teacher Teaches

The Nature of Science (NoS)

The Nature of Science can be explained as ideas about special characteristics, values, and assumptions about knowledge creation in the sciences.

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Why is NoS important?

• It strengthens metacognition (thinking about your thinking)
• It is important to understand HOW we know as well as WHAT we know

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What are Internal Influences of the Nature of Science?

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1. What is going on inside the minds of scientists?

2. What is going on within groups of scientists, engineers, etc?

Internal Influences

Internal Influences of the Nature of Science

1. Methods in the Sciences
2. Empirical Research (experiments, studies, etc.)
3. Interactions among scientists and engineers
4. Psychological factors (gender, race, culture, etc.)
5. Sociological factors (interactions between scientists and engineers, communication, language, etc.)

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Examples:

How do scientists pick procedures for investigations?

How do scientists interpret data and make conclusions?

Class Research and Discussion

1. Do Scientists (or engineers, mathematicians, etc.) select their own research topic?

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• What motivates research in some areas and not in others? (male and female contraception, certain cancers over others, certain diseases over others, etc.)

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What are External Influences of the Nature of Science?

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1. How does a society influence how science is conducted?

2. How does the environment impact science and STEM research?

External Influences

External Influences on the Nature of Science

1. Societal Factors
1. Private Corporations
2. Government Funding for certain Research
2. Environmental Factors
• Climate Disruptions
• Resources Available

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Examples:

What science research receives government �funding?

How does politics play a role in science research?

Internal and External Influences of Science

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Part 3: Student Activity

Case Study

The Climate Crisis - Climate Change Deniers

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How do corporations (for example: oil companies) influence science?

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Case Study Instructions

As a class, we will read the following articles:

1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-53640382

We will watch the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHx0_6tNDM&ab_channel=VICENews

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Group Activity

In groups of 2 - 3, construct a diagram of the internal and external influences of the NoS of a scientist who works for an Oil Company (i.e. Shell, Exxon (Esso), Chevron, etc.)

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Recap

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Internal Influences of the NoS

1. Methods in the Sciences
2. Empirical Research (experiments, studies, etc.)
3. Interactions among scientists and engineers
4. Psychological factors (gender, race, culture, etc.)
5. Sociological factors (interactions between scientists and engineers, communication, language, etc.)

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External Influences of the NoS

1. Societal Factors
1. Private Corporations
2. Government Funding for certain Research
2. Environmental Factors
• Climate Disruptions
• Resources Available

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Group Activity

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Internal - STEM

External - Societies and Environment

External - Environment

Adaptation for Courses �(Group activity align with curriculum)

General Science Grade 10:

• Physics - Optics: Galileo Case Study

Grade 11/12 Biology:

• Genetics: Mendel’s paradox/perfect data [Resource Created]
• Chemistry of Life: The discovery of DNA

Grade 11 Chemistry:

• Phlogiston

Additional Example for Science grades 9 - 12:

• Handwashing and Infant Death: Ignaz Semmelweis

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References

Hall, S. (2015, October 26). Exxon knew about climate change almost 40 years ago. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/

Keane, P. (2020, September 19). How the oil industry made us doubt climate change. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-53640382

Vice News. (2021, July 14). The Fossil Fuel Industry Wants You to Think It’s Solving Climate Change [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHx0_6tNDM&ab_channel=VICENews

Ziman, J. M. (1987). An introduction to science studies: The philosophical and social aspects of science and technology. Cambridge University Press.

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The STEPWISE Project

https://wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/jlbencze/stepwise/

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Resource Creator

Nicole Kofman

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Collaborators

Dave Del Gobbo, Majd Zouda, Sarah Halwany, Sheliza Ibrahim, Gonzalo Guerrero Hernandez & Larry Bencze

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Presentation Template

SlidesCarnival

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Additional Resources

Look at the STEPWISE website for additional teaching resources related to the NoS: https://wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/jlbencze/stepwise/

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