Scientific Thought and Processes

Honors 227

 

Professor George Taylor

Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science

Room 318 Research Building 1

gtaylor@gmu.edu

703.993.4039

 

and

 

Dr. Harold Geller
GMU Observatory Director
College of Science

 

Website:  https://gmu.blackboard.com

 

 

 

This course explores and integrates the principles of physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, biology and ecology. The intent is to present many of the dominant theories and laws that underlie how the natural world operates, with a focus on the scientific methodology used for the discovery process. Subsequently, we explore how the theories and laws have relevance in every day life. The labs for the course include computer simulations and hands-on experiments to demonstrate cardinal features of natural systems, including the (i) scientific methods, (ii) concepts of physics and astronomy, (iii) concepts of chemistry and geology, and (iv)  the concepts of biology.  The final week of the course highlights themes among all the scientific disciplines to illustrate how the sciences are integrated.

 

                

 

 

 

I.              INTRODUCTION, COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS

 

Objective:  Provide the student with a understanding of the major laws and principles that underpin the scientific disciples of physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, biology, and ecology.

 

This objective is met by a combination of activities designed to provide an understanding of the following:

                               

Ø       universality of the scientific method in all scientific endeavors and the philosophy with which science is conducted;

Ø       first principles of the discipline of physics, focusing on Newton’s Laws of motion and gravity and how they predict the behavior of objects on earth and in space, physical laws that govern the interaction of matter, energy, time, and space, and the different forms of energy and their interchangeability;

Ø       first principles of astronomy, focusing on the evolution of the universe and our understanding of the cosmos;

Ø       first principles of the disciple of geology, focusing on the earth and the other planets;

Ø       first principles of the discipline of chemistry, focusing on the chemistry of atoms and their combinations;

Ø       first principles of the discipline of biology, focusing on the hierarchical nature of living systems, unique processes that underlie how cells and organisms survive and reproduce, and the emergence of molecular biology and biotechnology as a new frontier;

Ø       first principles of the discipline of ecology and environmental science, focusing on the cycling of energy and materials on the earth surface and the impact of human activities on sustainability of ecological systems and humankind; and

Ø       integration of the sciences, focusing on the themes that course through all the scientific disciplines.

                               

Course Prerequisites:  Undergraduate standing in the Honors Program   

 

Lecture Schedule: Class meets weekly on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 – 1:15 PM in Room 113 of Innovation Hall

 

Laboratory Schedule:  Laboratories meet weekly as follows: 

Section 201: Monday 4:30 PM - 7:10 PM, Robinson Hall Room A410
Section 202: Tuesday 7:20 PM - 9:00 PM, Robinson Hall Room A410

 

Laboratory Instructor: Mr. Greg Redfern (gredfern@earthlink.net)

 

Course Grading: There will be three in-class examinations and one comprehensive final examination. The in-class examinations will be worth a total of 40% of your final grade. The final examination will be worth 25% of your final grad and will be comprehensive in nature. The laboratory reports will be due weekly and graded by your lab instructor. The in-class questions with the personal response system called iClicker (and the short essays) will be given during many of the lectures and will count 10% of your grade (50% for answering / 50% for correctness). Questions can NOT be done except in the class period in which they are given.  The laboratories are worth 25%

 

In summary, grades will be determined as follows:

Three in-class examinations => 40% of grade
One comprehensive final examination => 25% of grade
Nine laboratory reports => 25% of grade

iClicker questions and short essays on current R&D => 10% of grade

 

Course Texts:  The Sciences: An Integrated Approach (6th Edition) by James Trefil and Robert Hazen.  Required

 

Course Instructor.  The instructors are Drs. George Taylor and Harold Geller, who are responsible for all class activities.  The instructors are available for consultation at any time although it is encouraged that an appointment be arranged.

 

Honors Program Web Pages: http://honors.gmu.edu/

 

Honor Code

Students are expected to follow the George Mason University rule of student conduct, as noted in the catalog:

"George Mason University shares in the tradition of an honor system that has existed in Virginia since 1842. The Honor Code is an integral part of university life. On the application for admission, students sign a statement agreeing to conform to and uphold the Honor Code. Therefore students are responsible for understanding the provisions of the code. In the spirit of the code, a student’s word, is a declaration of good faith acceptable as truth in all academic matters. Therefore, cheating and attempted cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing of academic work and related materials constitute Honor Code violations. To maintain an academic community according to these standards, students and faculty must report all alleged violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Committee. Any student who has knowledge of, but does not report, an Honor Code violation may be accused of lying under the Honor Code."

In evaluating your performance in this course, the instructors (Taylor, Geller and Redfern) operate under the assumption that the work you submit is yours and yours alone.

Course Format: Lectures
Lectures will consist of various forms of presentation materials, including videos, computer displays, demonstrations and Power Point. Questions are acceptable and encouraged at any time during the lecture. Students should be alert during the lecture and prepared to answer queries posed as they arise. The lecture notes, in Power Point format, will be posted on the web site for the course. Students are expected to have command of the lecture material and the text information.

Course Format: Textbook
The text covers the breadth of the natural sciences and provides a systematic and well-illustrated survey. In addition, it provides a host of examples to help you understand the information and its application to your daily activities. Finally, at the end of each chapter is a well developed list of questions (short answer and discussion) that are an excellent study aid for the quizzes and examinations. You are encouraged to view the text as a parallel reference to the lectures, and each (lecture and text) is viewed as being equally of value as a reference.

Course Format: Laboratory Sessions
University laboratory safety regulations require us to request that all students in laboratory sections wear proper attire, which includes shirts/tops/blouses and closed-toe shoes. It also requires us to PROHIBIT FOOD AND DRINKS.
Labs are a collaborative effort of 2-4 students working as a team. Each student will hand in her/his own laboratory report for each week’s exercise. The labs will consist of computer simulations and hands-on experiments. Laboratory reports will be turned in at the close of that week’s lab unless your lab instructor has requested a different submission date. Information from the labs will be part of the lecture questions, in-class examinations, and the final examination.
Laboratories are NOT an optional part of the course. Because of the effort involved in setting up each lab, it is impossible to provide opportunities for make-up labs. Labs begin at the stated time and being late is disruptive and not acceptable. In the event that you are unable to attend laboratory for a legitimate reason (to be determined by Dr. Taylor), you need to notify Dr. Taylor in writing. In the event of an absence (legitimate or otherwise), you are still responsible for the material covered, and you may have to perform a task as a substitute, in any event.
An absence from any lab carries an automatic zero for that lab unless you have cleared the absence with Dr. taylor.

Course Format: In-Class iClicker
Students will utilize an iClicker provided by the Honors Program for use as participation for the in-class questions during lecture.

Course Format: Current R&D in the Chemical, Life and Environmental Sciences
Select short readings of current research and development (R&D) will be distributed electronically via the website and short synopsis (~ 0.5 page) will be submitted.  Readings will be discussed in class.  Synopses can only be submitted in class.

Course Format: Examinations                                                                                                                                 The three examinations will include short answer (multiple choice, fill in the blank) and problem solving questions. As a study guide, you should work through the questions at the end of each chapter. Examinations can NOT be made up unless Dr. Taylor provides a variance; variances are only granted for legitimate excuses. Any make-up exam will not be the same as that given in class.

Entry Level Competencies
The course is mostly conceptually-based, using some high school level algebra and geometry. The only prerequisite is acceptance into the Honors Program.

Major Topics to be Addressed

o        Scientific method

o        Origins of the universe

o        Origins of our solar system and planets

o        Physics of light, gravity, matter, magnetism, radioactivity, nuclear energy, and relativity

o        Geology of volcanism, plate tectonics, and erosion

o        Birth and death of stars and galaxies

o        Big Bang theory of universal creation, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes

o        Origin of life on Earth

o        Biochemical and molecular attributes of all living systems

o        Evolution of life on Earth and the interplay of genetics and ecology

o        Principles of genetics, role in evolution, and the nanoscale aspects of molecular biology

o        Biotechnology, genetic engineering and your future

o        Revolutions in the sciences: how they happen