Conversations on Science: What Makes Science, Well, Science?

Summary

The video script from 'After the Fact' explores the central role of science in our lives, with host Dan Leduc discussing its significance in shaping humanity's understanding of the universe and ourselves. Featuring insights from Ira Flato of 'Science Friday' and theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, the conversation delves into the scientific method, its dynamic nature, and its capacity for self-correction. The script highlights science as a vital tool in addressing global challenges, such as the current pandemic, and emphasizes the importance of curiosity, research, and collective action in our quest for knowledge and survival.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Science is central to understanding the universe and human nature, offering a playground for exploration and self-expression.
• 📚 Growing up, science and studies served as a refuge, especially for the son of immigrants, and fostered a curiosity about how things work.
• 🔍 The scientific method is a fundamental process that begins with a question and involves seeking evidence to prove or disprove hypotheses.
• 📈 Science is not a static body of knowledge but a dynamic process that evolves with ongoing research and discovery.
• 🤔 The importance of mentorship in nurturing scientific curiosity and guiding young minds, as exemplified by the influence of Mrs. Pfeffer on Ira Flatow.
• 🌐 Science is intertwined with daily life, from new medicines and technology to big data analysis, reflecting its impact on society.
• 🧬 The public's perception of science as an unchanging encyclopedia is challenged by the understanding that it's a constantly evolving field.
• 🔬 Scientists do not always agree with each other, but the scientific community strives for truth, and research can change prevailing ideas over time.
• 📝 Publishing findings is crucial in science for peer review and commentary, ensuring the community can assess and build upon the work.
• 🌐 Science can be applied to everyday life, from shopping to decision-making, emphasizing the value of evidence-based reasoning.
• 🔄 Science is self-correcting; over time, it adapts and evolves as new experiments either confirm or refute existing theories and ideas.

Q & A

What does the speaker describe as the core of science and its connection to humanity?

The speaker describes the core of science as exploring the origin and nature of the universe and ourselves, which is central to understanding why we are human.

Why did the speaker grow up with a strong interest in science?

The speaker grew up as the son of immigrants, where science and studies served as a refuge, and it made sense to him to seek answers that could be proven one way or another.

What is the significance of the 'scientific method' mentioned in the script?

The scientific method is significant as it is the systematic approach to understanding the world, which always begins with a question and is fundamental to scientific inquiry.

How does Ira Flatow, the host of Science Friday, view the nature of science?

Ira Flatow views science as a process, not a static encyclopedia of facts, and emphasizes that it is intertwined with our lives and constantly evolving.

What role did Mrs. Pfeffer play in Ira's early interest in science?

Mrs. Pfeffer, Ira's eighth-grade teacher, played a crucial role by encouraging him to participate in a science club and to undertake projects, which helped keep his interest in science alive.

What is the general agreement among people about the impact of science on life according to the Pew Research Center's data point 79?

According to the Pew Research Center's data point 79, 79 percent of people agree that science has made life easier for most people.

How does the script describe the scientific community's approach to truth and agreement?

The script describes the scientific community as one that looks for the truth and holds a general agreement at any one point in time, but this can change as new research and evidence are presented.

What is the importance of publishing data in the scientific process as mentioned in the script?

Publishing data is important in the scientific process because it allows the rest of the community to peer-review findings, comment on the research, and contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge.

How does the script relate the scientific method to our day-to-day lives?

The script relates the scientific method to day-to-day life by suggesting that it can be applied to various situations, such as shopping or evaluating information from friends, by listening, collecting information, and assessing its validity.

What does Carlo Rovelli describe as the starting point of science?

Carlo Rovelli describes the starting point of science as a sense of wonder and mystery, with the understanding that we do not know things, which drives curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.

How does the script discuss the role of science in addressing the ecological crisis?

The script discusses the role of science in addressing the ecological crisis by emphasizing that we must realize we are part of nature and find the best ways to interact with it, using science as a guide.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Central Role of Science in Life and Exploration

This paragraph introduces the deep connection between science and our existence. It emphasizes the significance of science in understanding the universe and ourselves, as well as its role in shaping our daily lives. The speaker, Dan LeDuc, shares his personal journey with science, highlighting its importance as a refuge and a means of self-expression. The paragraph also touches on the scientific method, the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge, and the importance of research and peer review in the scientific community. It sets the stage for a discussion on the impact of science on society and the individual.

05:03

🌟 The Wonder and Method of Science

In this paragraph, the conversation delves into the nature of scientific inquiry and its methodology. The speaker, Ira Flato, discusses the non-linear and self-correcting nature of science, drawing parallels to the arts, specifically painting. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of questioning, the scientific method's role in guiding discovery, and the iterative process of research and validation. It also touches on the current pandemic, illustrating how scientific research is unfolding in real-time and the public's stake in understanding this process. The discussion with theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli highlights the beauty and depth of science, its ability to reveal the unknown, and the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity.

10:05

🌱 Science as a Guide for Humanity and the Ecological Crisis

The final paragraph focuses on the broader implications of science for humanity and the environment. It discusses the ecological crisis as a major challenge that requires a collective and scientific approach. Rovelli emphasizes that science is a tool that should be guided by our moral and political values, and that it is crucial for addressing global issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the role of science in guiding humanity towards survival and the importance of listening to scientific findings while making value-based decisions.

Keywords

💡Science

Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. In the video, it is portrayed as a central aspect of human life, integral to understanding our world and ourselves. It is exemplified through the development of new medicines, technology, and data analysis, which are all products of scientific inquiry.

💡Scientific Method

The scientific method is a fundamental process used in scientific investigation, which begins with a question and is followed by hypothesis formulation, experimentation, observation, and drawing conclusions. In the script, it is highlighted as a dynamic process that is not static but evolves with new evidence and understanding, central to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn, experience, or understand something. In the context of the video, curiosity is what drives individuals to explore and question the world around them, leading to scientific discovery and innovation. It is illustrated through personal anecdotes of taking things apart to understand how they work and the importance of asking questions.

💡Mentoring

Mentoring refers to the guidance or support provided by a more experienced or knowledgeable person to a less experienced one. In the video, the role of a mentor is underscored as crucial in nurturing a passion for science, with the example of an eighth-grade teacher who encouraged the host's interest in science.

💡Research

Research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The script emphasizes the importance of research in the scientific process, where ideas are tested and evidence is gathered to validate or refute hypotheses.

💡Peer Review

Peer review is the process by which scholars or scientists evaluate the work of their colleagues in the same field to maintain or enhance the quality of scientific research. In the video, it is mentioned as a critical component of scientific publication, ensuring that findings are scrutinized and validated by other experts in the field.

💡Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related events or conditions in populations. The script refers to epidemiology in the context of understanding the transmission of the coronavirus, illustrating how scientific methods are applied to track and combat diseases.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. The video discusses the current pandemic as a real-time example of how science is applied to understand and mitigate a global health crisis.

💡Ecological Crisis

An ecological crisis refers to a situation where the balance of an ecosystem is severely disrupted, often due to human activities. The script mentions the ecological crisis, including climate change and biodiversity loss, as a significant challenge that requires a scientific approach to address.

💡Interdisciplinary

Interdisciplinary refers to the approach of combining concepts and methods from different academic disciplines to solve complex problems. The video script implies the need for an interdisciplinary approach in tackling global challenges, suggesting that science is not isolated but interconnected with other fields.

💡Self-correcting

Self-correcting in the context of science means that the scientific community has mechanisms to identify and correct errors or misconceptions over time. The script highlights this attribute of science, emphasizing its ability to evolve and improve through continuous scrutiny and experimentation.

Highlights

Science is central to human life, offering a means to explore the universe's origin and our own nature.

Growing up as the son of immigrants, science provided a refuge and a way to prove answers.

The importance of the scientific method, which always begins with a question, is emphasized.

Science is not a collection of static facts but a dynamic process of discovery and learning.

Ira Flato, host of 'Science Friday', shares his childhood curiosity and interest in how things work.

The role of mentorship in nurturing a passion for science, as exemplified by Ira's eighth-grade teacher.

The idea that without science, we would lack modern medicines, transportation, and health.

Science as a snapshot of our current understanding, subject to change with ongoing research.

The scientific community's disagreement and the pursuit of truth through research and evidence.

The significance of publishing data for peer review and the self-correcting nature of science.

Applying the scientific method to everyday life for problem-solving and decision-making.

The beauty and depth of science, as seen by theoretical physicist and writer Carlo Rovelli.

Science's role in realizing the interconnectedness of humanity and the ecological crisis.

The importance of listening to scientists while making moral and political decisions.

Science as a tool for humanity to address and overcome global challenges.

The public's stake in understanding the scientific process, especially during a pandemic.

The convergence of scientific ideas and the importance of debate and uncertainty in scientific discovery.

Transcripts

[Music]

the science gave me a fantastic

playground

and a way to express myself it goes to

the heart of why we're human

to explore the origin and nature of the

universe and ourselves

why has science become so central to my

life it makes a huge amount of sense to

me

to get answers where i can prove

one way or another growing up as the the

son of

immigrants science and studies were a

refuge

for the pew charitable trusts i'm dan

leduc and this is after the fact

it's a new season and we'll be hearing

this fall from voices like these

each with a passion for science

new medicines from a lab the technology

that allows you to hear me right now

the analysis of big data like the

epidemiology going on now to better

understand how the coronavirus is

transmitted

it's all science and it's intertwined

with our lives

every day we think of it as an

encyclopedia of books

right there's a fact in a book and

that's that's going to be that way

forever

but it's not science is a process

that's ira fledo host of the popular

public radio program science

friday and you'll hear from them again

shortly but first

our data point 79

according to the pew research center 79

percent of us

agree that science has made life easier

for most people

and as most of us learned in school

there's a method the scientific

method and it always begins with a

question

now back to ira who began asking

questions as a kid

i was always interested in science i

never wanted to be a scientist i wanted

to be an engineer

because i wanted to know how things work

and so

i would take things apart i would take

my mother's washing machine apart

i learned how to fix black and white

televisions myself

i would enter science fair projects i

really wanted to know how the world

worked and i was very curious about how

that happens

i was lucky also to have a teacher mrs

pfeffer

my eighth grade teacher who had a

science club and i think it's very

important

for people to know that kids need some

sort of

mentoring i if i didn't have mrs pfeffer

encouraging me

after school to do projects and one of

which i almost burned down my mother's

bathroom but that's another story

um i i think i would not have been it

kept my interest going but

that's how i got started so let me ask

you a question where you fill in the

blank at the end of this sentence

without science we would be

back in the stone age i mean

uh you know who invented you know the

question of who invented the wheel i

mean

where how much experimentation did that

take

without science we wouldn't have the

medicines we have today we wouldn't have

the transportation we have today we

wouldn't have the health we have today

i could go on and on we wouldn't have

the stock market we had today

there is the scientific method there's a

way you follow to do science and guess

what

it works i mean how do you explain that

to people science is basically a

snapshot

of what we know about the world working

at one time

and that's now and what we might know in

the future

by doing research and the word research

is really very

important in this central idea because

how does science work

well you come up with an idea and then

you search

for evidence for your idea you come up

with okay a conclusion

i think the universe works this way or i

think a drug works that way

we then have to research it we have to

send somebody else out to do the search

and or many people to go out and do that

search so

science is research it's over and over

ag

again until it becomes accepted the

second thing about science is that

people think that all scientists agree

with each other and they don't

but science looks for the truth and sort

of

holds the scientific community about

what the general agreement

is at any one point in time but

eventually if there's enough

research that goes on it changes the

current thinking and that changes how we

think about something that's going on in

the world and so you then

publish the data that's very important

you publish what you have found so that

the rest of the community the rest of

your peers

peer-reviewed things can comment on what

you've done

the main idea is that it is not a static

thing

we are part of a moving target of

history and science works that way

it's telling us what we know at any one

time can we

employ the scientific method in sort of

our day-to-day lives just

fussing through trying to figure things

out absolutely

if we didn't call it the scientific

method and called it something else

there would be a lot of people who'd be

aboard with understanding what it is

you know i mean the scientific method

whether whether you're shopping for

clothing or

whether you're buying a car or whether

you're trying to believe what your

friends are telling you

it's it's all about listening and

collecting the information

and seeing whether it makes sense that

whole being able to replicate something

shows um that there's something to it as

opposed to a one-time wonder

they'd like to say that science is

self-correcting

you may not agree with what's going on

now but

over a period of time enough people who

want to prove you wrong

and they're all out there they will

conduct their own experiments and try to

prove that you

are right or you are wrong and over time

if you are wrong science will

self-correct itself

to bring around a new idea and move on

from there

so there's motion to the method and it

can become a wondrous thing to watch

carlo rivelli a world-renowned

theoretical physicist and writer

sees a beauty and a depth in science

carlo rovelli welcome thank you so much

for being with us today thank you for

having me

you are a physicist who i must say

writes like a poet

and your book uh the seven

brief lessons on physics is in something

like 40 languages

around the world and it ends with this

most

uh amazing line that i would like to to

start our conversation with if you don't

mind

you say that on the edge of what we know

in contact with the oceans of the

unknown shines the mystery and the

beauty of the world

is that science is that the pursuit of

science for you

yes uh definitely because uh

science starts i think both historically

and in the life of each scientist

uh with a wonder and with the

mystery and in fact i think the nature

of science is to realize that we do not

know

things and therefore we're curious to go

and try to

find out and the natural style of

science is also the

based on the discovery that we can find

out things we can discover things that

we did not know

there's a methodology to to science

there is a scientific method

but the scientific method is both

something that leads us forward but also

makes us pause makes us reevaluate

science it seems despite

methodology um is not linear uh it's

like

painting of course there is a method for

painting you go to school and they teach

you how to paint

but then the painter is the the guy who

does does not follow what is being

taught

and then something else of course there

are many aspects of science which are

pretty stable and that give it strength

checking not trusting

ideas unless you find a way to confirm

them

try to base your information on actual

data and

and looking at the world observing

measuring

checking um putting in doubt

not believing the things you you believe

there's a beautiful line

in brecht galileo in the play in which

at the end galileo the the one of the

inventors of science so to say

with one of his young assistant and they

got an idea and the

the assistant says okay now let's do

everything possible to show that it is

right

and galileo says no no no let's do it

everything possible to show that it is

wrong

and if it survives maybe we start

believing it

fascinating yes so you know um we are

speaking at a time when

um the world of course is facing this

terrible pandemic

and scientific research about this is

unfolding before our eyes

the public who maybe doesn't follow

these things

this this methodology this way of doing

business closely

has a real stake in this right to see

what's going on are there lessons for us

all in

in what we're learning and how this is

unfolding yeah i think there are lessons

and then

and in fact uh it's it's it's an

opportunity for us

seeing how science works the first thing

we all notice

is that we don't know anything we are in

the dark and that's

that's often the starting point of

science um the second thing is

we're not completely the dark the reason

we are

searching for uh way to heal this

virus and for uh vaccines

is because we have ways to ill illnesses

that

are extraordinarily effective so

on the one hand we see the limits of

science on the other hand

we see the immense power of science a

few generations ago

not many maybe two centuries ago the

life expectancy of people

were several decades shorter than today

this is because there was a scientific

method of some sort

that helped us to learn how to deal with

with illness and that's what is being

used the second point is that

we see that scientists look in different

directions however

there is convergence and that's the

point there are always been convergence

in scientific

debates and uncertainty so after the

debate after the search

the knowledge that is acquired is

definitely knowledge

so it will take time but it will come

out

we all see how science is crucial i mean

if there's anything that can save us for

a lot of pain

this situation is scientific knowledge

but then the actual decisions

are political our moral are value

decisions

there are a lot of heart decisions that

society can only take by

negotiating by politics by debate by

discussion

also in your book you write this lovely

sentence

we are like an only child who in growing

up

realizes the world does not revolve only

around himself

he must learn to be among others that

seems to me

um wow a view of science that talks

about our

common humanity uh and how we learn

about each other is that is that what we

were trying to get out there

oh yes definitely we exist a part of a

network

both individually network of humanity

and humanity as a part of networking

biology

and as part of the larger aspect of

things and this is important because uh

one of the major crises humanity is

facing uh

probably much bigger than the uh the

current epidemics uh is is ecological

crisis in the in the larger sense the

the the heating of the planet and the

the collapsing of the species so we have

to obviously to take care of that and we

have to take care of that collectively

and we do that by realizing not that we

are a sort of a

powerful thing outside nature but we are

part of nature and we find the best way

we have to find the best way to interact

with it

so i think what you're saying though is

science is going to be perhaps one of

the most important

guides for us in saving the world in the

coming years i mean we do face some

enormous challenges

is science up to that task right now

science is a tool that we have and we

should not

mistake a tool with our ideology or our

objective the value that we have don't

come from science

come from ourself from inside ourselves

we want to survive because we want to

survive we want humanity to survive

because we want it to survive and then

we look for tools

and science today

is by far the best tool we have

i mean if you want to go to the moon you

ask a scientist if you want to heal

a person with your pneumonia you ask a

scientist do you want to build a bridge

you ask a scientist

or you ask somebody who relies on

knowledge

that were developed by uh by scientists

i think we should be guided by a

discussion among us on on on moral

and political values uh but then we

should be careful to what scientists say

because they're you know raising red

flags and we should listen to the

solution that they can offer knowing

that they are not

necessarily complete solutions it's the

best we we have so far

carlos rovelli thank you so much this

has been a fascinating conversation

learned a lot about what makes science

science but are we

trusting the science we hear about in

our next episode

more on being in the middle of a living

experiment

there's a little nugget of information

that's going on here

as a public we have been learning all

sorts of information we didn't know

including the idea that there is such a

thing as coronavirus

we hope you join us to hear more for the

pew charitable trusts

i'm dan leduc and this is after the fact