UWSSLEC LibGuides: Secondary STEM Guide: Science

Science is in our hands

Image Source Page: http://www.mrsmacdonaldteacher.com/science%20fun.html

Science Links

PBS Teachers - Science Resources
Scroll down for High School appropriate links.
Natioanl Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Global Disaster Watch
Monitoring natural disasters: climate change, cyclones, drought, earthquakes, flooding, freak waves, hurricanes, landslides, meteor strikes, mystery booms/skyquakes, pandemics, record-breaking disasters, solar flares, space weather, tropical storms, tsunamis, volcanoes, unusual animal behavior, weather extremes, wildfires; disaster archives from 1998-present.
The Tornado Project
A website dealing with tornadoes in the United States. Includes tornadoes from year to year.
Reddy's Forensic Page
A webpage dealing with a variety of areas within forensic science.
Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas
An atlas listing all the species of birds found throughout Wisconsin. The page includes maps showing where in Wiscsonsin each species can be found.
Wisconsin DNR
Homepage for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resouces.

What is the Difference between Science and Engineering?

Science: The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Science
(American Heritage Dictionary)

Engineering: The application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical structures, machines, processes, and systems.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Engineering
(American Heritage Dictionary)

What is the difference between science and engineering?
Scientists investigate what is; they discover new knowledge by peering into the unknown...
Engineers create what has not been; they make things that have never existed before...

—Joe Bordogna, National Science Foundation

Scientists investigate nature to discover new knowledge. Engineers use that knowledge to create solutions to problems. There is overlap here because as soon as a scientists discovers a new phenomenon, he/she immediately begins thinking about ways in which it can be useful to humanity. The important difference is the end goal. The goal of a scientist is the discovery of new knowledge and explanations of observed phenomenon. The goal of an engineer is solving problems. These differences are evident when comparing the scientific method to the engineering design process. The most important difference is the challenge at the top of each column, below.

Engineering Design Process

Challenge:
“What can we make to solve this?”

Brainstorm many different design ideas

Select a design from your ideas

Explain your design

Build and test your design

Review and decide if design is the best one possible

Redesign (iterate) based on what you learned

Scientific Method

Challenge:
“How can we prove this theory right or wrong?”

Background and research

Hypothesis

Describe procedure

Observation

Conclusion

http://www.engineeringpathway.com/ep/k12/k12_sci_eng.jhtml;jsessionid=LE4V2QTWOIJWRABAVRSSFEQ

Secondary Group

Stephanie Janigo