Scientific Literacy

How to think and read like a scientist

It means being able to:

Explain phenomena scientifically

Including recognising, offer and evaluate explanations for a range of natural and technological phenomena

Evaluate and design scientific enquiry

Suggest ways of investigating questions which are asked scientifically, design experiments in a very scientific way and evaluate whether the experiments are fair, and lead to valid conclusions

Interpret data and evidence scientifically

Analyse and evaluate data, claims and arguments in a variety of representations and draw appropriate scientific conclusions.

2

What does being scientifically literate

mean?

Types of scientific knowledge:

Knowledge of the content of scienceeg Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Procedural knowledgeThis means knowledge about how scientists come up with theories, test them through collecting data and check whether the data is reliable.

Epistemic knowledgeThis means understanding how Science can have an impact on the Earth, the environment and the populations (human or other living things)

3

What does being scientifically literate

mean?

Here are some examples to discuss. All are related to the growth of mobile phone use.

Content knowledge

Procedural knowledge

Epistemic knowledge

1. Mobile phones use electromagnetic waves (microwaves)2. Scientists are carrying out studies on how microwaves affect the brain.3. Cheap mobile phones have provided huge opportunities in developing

countries.4. Scientists need to collect data on the number of brain tumours found in

regular users of mobile phones compared to non users.5. Mobile phones can be a distraction to learning in schools.6. Microwaves can have a heating effect on living cells.

How well did you do?

Content knowledge

Procedural knowledge

Epistemic knowledge

1 2 36 4 5

1. Mobile phones use electromagnetic waves (microwaves)2. Scientists are carrying out studies on how microwaves affect the brain.3. Cheap mobile phones have provided huge opportunities in developing

countries.4. Scientists need to collect data on the number of brain tumours found in

regular users of mobile phones compared to non users.5. Mobile phones can be a distraction to learning in schools.6. Microwaves can have a heating effect on living cells.

Content knowledge

Procedural knowledge

Epistemic knowledge

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.

Rising sea levels are threatening habitats.

Measurements suggest that average global temperatures are rising.

Some people argue that the data on global temperature change is unreliable.

Fission of uranium produces products that are radioactive.

Nuclear waste needs to be stored securely, otherwise it could harm the environment.

Just 5% of the Earth’s population (the USA) consumes 24% of the energy used on Earth.

Exposure to radiation causes ionisation which can lead to DNA damage in living cells.

Scientists calculate that the known reserves of coal on Earth will last about 110 years at the present rate of consumption.

In 2008 China was the country that produced the most carbon dioxide

Content knowledge

Procedural knowledge

Epistemic knowledge

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. Rising sea levels are threatening habitats. Measurements suggest that average global temperatures are rising.

Some people argue that the data on global temperature change is unreliable.

Fission of uranium produces products that are radioactive.

Nuclear waste needs to be stored securely, otherwise it could harm the environment.

Just 5% of the Earth’s population (the USA) consumes 24% of the energy used on Earth.

Exposure to radiation causes ionisation which can lead to DNA damage in living cells.

Scientists calculate that the known reserves of coal on Earth will last about 110 years at the present rate of consumption.

In 2008 China was the country that produced the most carbon dioxide

Now read this text. Try to identify examples of the three types of knowledge that relate to it.

The graph shows the pattern of electricity demand in the UK for the months of January and July 2009. The peak demand was 58.9 GW at 6 pm on a cold January day whilst trough demand was 22.3 GW on a warm Saturday night in July. Engineers working for the distribution network can monitor how demand changes daily, weekly and annually and plan how best to meet it. As well as obvious factors like day of the week and temperature, other factors such as popular TV programmes and big sports events can have a big effect on demand for electricity.

A nuclear fission reactor takes a long time to start up. It is most efficient to run a nuclear reactor constantly. The same is true of older coal power stations. Gas and hydroelectric power stations can be switched on and off more quickly and are best used at times when demand changes rapidly. Solar and tidal power is fairly predictable but not constant, whilst wind power is hard to predict. Matching supply and demand is a very important part of supplying the UK with electricity.

Content knowledge – how does this link to my knowledge of other areas of science?

Content knowledge – how does this link to my knowledge of other areas of science? Procedural knowledge – how does this link to

how scientists use data to come up with new ideas?

Procedural knowledge – how does this link to how scientists use data to come up with new

ideas?

Epistemic knowledge – how does this link to the impact of science on the world?

Epistemic knowledge – how does this link to the impact of science on the world?

Data – how could the data given in the text be used to calculate new information? How could I

check its reliability?

Data – how could the data given in the text be used to calculate new information? How could I

check its reliability?

Supply and demand