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Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > General
How do people understand science? How do they feel about science, how do they relate to it, what do they hope from it and what do they fear about it? Science of the People: Understanding and using science in everyday contexts helps answer these questions as the result of painstaking interviewing by Professor Joan Solomon of all and sundry in a fairly typical small town. The result is a unique overview of how a very wide range of adults, united only by local geography, relate to science. Many of the findings run contrary to what is widely believed about how science is learnt and about how people view it. Chapters include: An Approach to Awareness Publics for Science? Ethics and Action Interpretation and Change Joan Solomon, who sadly died before this book could be published, enjoyed an international reputation in science education. After a long career teaching science in secondary schools she moved into the university sector and ending up holding chairs of science education at the Open University, King's College London and the University of Plymouth. She was a world leader in her subject and inspired classroom teachers and wrote a number of very influential papers with some of them. She produced many important books, booklets and other resources to help science teachers and science educators get to grips with the history and philosophy of science and the teaching of energy, amongst other topics. This book is essential reading for those involved in Science education and educational policy.
In this book Lee Rudolph brings together international contributors who combine psychological and mathematical perspectives to analyse how qualitative mathematics can be used to create models of social and psychological processes. Bridging the gap between the fields with an imaginative and stimulating collection of contributed chapters, the volume updates the current research on the subject, which until now has been rather limited, focussing largely on the use of statistics. Qualitative Mathematics for the Social Sciences contains a variety of useful illustrative figures, introducing readers from the social sciences to the rich contribution that modern mathematics has made to our knowledge of logic, structures, and dynamic systems. A beguiling array of conceptual systems, topological models and fractals are discussed which transcend the application of statistics, and bring a fresh perspective to the study of social representations. The wide selection of qualitative mathematical methodologies discussed in this volume will be hugely valuable to higher-level undergraduate and postgraduate students of psychology, sociology and mathematics. It will also be useful for researchers, academics and professionals from the social sciences who want a firmer grasp on the use of qualitative mathematics.
The Routledge International Handbook of Innovation Education is the international reference work on innovation education and potentially opens an entirely new direction in education. The overall goal of the handbook is to address the question of how to develop innovators in general and how to develop the innovative potential of today s young people with exceptional talents in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) disciplines in particular. Today many governments around the world are interested in the development of STEM innovators. This handbook provides the first and most comprehensive account available of what should be done in order to develop innovators and how to do it successfully. It includes chapters by leading specialists from around the world responsible for much of the current research in the fields of innovation, gifted education, scientific talent, science education, and high ability studies. Based on the latest research findings and expert opinion, this book goes beyond mere anecdotes to consider what science can tell us about the development of innovators. By enlisting chapters from innovation experts, educators, psychologists, policy makers, and researchers in the field of management "The Routledge International Handbook of Innovation Education" will allow all of these scholars to speak to each other about how to develop innovators via innovation education, including such issues as:
This ground-breaking and potentially field defining work will thus serve as the first authoritative resource on all aspects of theory, research, and practice of innovation education.
Acclaim for Einstein: A Life "Denis Brian's convincing picture . . . only makes our wonder grow at Einstein's sublime achievements." —The Washington Post "Does much to reveal the man behind the image . . . Brian's intimate work proves that in literature, as in science, taking a careful look can be a rewarding endeavor." —Detroit Free Press. "A fascinating, vastly enjoyable, deeply researched and fair account of Einstein the man." —Physics World "Exhaustively researched, almost obsessively detailed, written with unobtrusive informality, the book is exemplary as a record of Einstein's personal and professional life." —The Spectator (U.K.) "An utterly fascinating life of a great scientist full of new insights and very readable." —Ashley Montagu "A fascinating read with more interesting material about Einstein as a human being than I have ever seen before . . . Once I started it, I couldn't put it down." —Robert Jastrow astrophysicist and bestselling author "A thoughtful and captivating account of one whom I had the joy of knowing and loving." —George Wald Nobel Laureate
The plenary volume from the Seventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2011) examines the politics of advocacy and the context in which scholars are encouraged to pursue social justice agendas, be human rights advocates, and do work that honors the core values of human dignity and freedom from fear and violence. Contributions from many of the world's leading qualitative researchers in communications, education, sociology, and related disciplines address topics including community research, transformative education, and researcher ethics, and guide the field toward an engaged, activist research agenda.
The plenary volume from the Seventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2011) examines the politics of advocacy and the context in which scholars are encouraged to pursue social justice agendas, be human rights advocates, and do work that honors the core values of human dignity and freedom from fear and violence. Contributions from many of the world's leading qualitative researchers in communications, education, sociology, and related disciplines address topics including community research, transformative education, and researcher ethics, and guide the field toward an engaged, activist research agenda.
The Problem with Survey Research makes a case against survey research as a primary source of reliable information. George Beam argues that all survey research instruments, all types of asking--including polls, face-to-face interviews, and focus groups--produce unreliable and potentially inaccurate results. Because those who rely on survey research only see answers to questions, it is impossible for them, or anyone else, to evaluate the results. They cannot know if the answers correspond to respondents' actual behaviors (objective phenomena) or to their true beliefs and opinions (subjective phenomena). Reliable information can only be acquired by observation, experimentation, multiple sources of data, formal model building and testing, document analysis, and comparison. In fifteen chapters divided into six parts--Ubiquity of Survey Research, The Problem, Asking Instruments, Asking Settings, Askers, and Proper Methods and Research Designs--The Problem with Survey Research demonstrates how asking instruments, settings in which asking and answering take place, and survey researchers themselves skew results and thereby make answers unreliable. The last two chapters and appendices examine observation, other methods of data collection and research designs that may produce accurate or correct information, and shows how reliance on survey research can be overcome, and must be.
The tragedy of American science is that its direction is determined by private profit rather than by the desire to improve the human condition. As a result, Conner argues, Big Science has been irredeemably corrupted by Big Money. This corruption threatens the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the medicines we take. The Tragedy of American Science explores how the U.S. economy's addiction to military spending distorts and deforms science by making it overwhelmingly subservient to military interests. The primary motive driving American science and technology has become the search for new and more efficient ways to kill people. This transforms science from the classic ideal of a creative force for the advancement of humankind into its destructive and antihuman opposite. That those trillions of dollars in resources and scientific talent are not devoted to solving the problems of poverty, disease, and environmental destruction is one of the greatest tragedies of our times. While the underlying problems may appear intractable, Conner compellingly argues that replacing the current science-for-profit system with a science-for-human-needs system is not an impossible, utopian dream. But to get there, we'll need to grapple with this important history.
More women are studying science at university and they consistently outperform men. Yet, still, significantly fewer women than men hold prestigious jobs in science. Why should this occur? What prevents women from achieving as highly as men in science? And why are so few women positioned as 'creative genius' research scientists? Drawing upon the views of 47 (female and male) scientists, Bevan and Gatrell explore why women are less likely than men to become eminent in their profession. They observe three mechanisms which perpetuate women s lowered 'place' in science: subtle masculinities (whereby certain forms of masculinity are valued over womanhood); (m)otherhood (in which women's potential for maternity positions them as 'other'), and the image of creative genius which is associated with male bodies, excluding women from research roles.
What if life isn't just a part of the universe . . . what if it determines the very structure of the universe itself? The theory that blew your mind in Biocentrism and Beyond Biocentrism is back, with brand-new research revealing the startling truth about our existence. What is consciousness? Why are we here? Where did it all come from-the laws of nature, the stars, the universe? Humans have been asking these questions forever, but science hasn't succeeded in providing many answers-until now. In The Grand Biocentric Design, Robert Lanza, one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," is joined by theoretical physicist Matej Pavsic and astronomer Bob Berman to shed light on the big picture that has long eluded philosophers and scientists alike. This engaging, mind-stretching exposition of how the history of physics has led us to Biocentrism-the idea that life creates reality-takes readers on a step-by-step adventure into the great science breakthroughs of the past centuries, from Newton to the weirdness of quantum theory, culminating in recent revelations that will challenge everything you think you know about our role in the universe. This book offers the most complete explanation of the science behind Biocentrism to date, delving into the origins of the memorable principles introduced in previous books in this series, as well as introducing new principles that complete the theory. The authors dive deep into topics including consciousness, time, and the evidence that our observations-or even knowledge in our minds-can affect how physical objects behave. The Grand Biocentric Design is a one-of-a-kind, groundbreaking explanation of how the universe works, and an exploration of the science behind the astounding fact that time, space, and reality itself, all ultimately depend upon us.
Darwin's theory has become so much part of science that for many it has the standing of biological law. This book challenges the basis of the Darwinian theory of evolution and brings together many discoveries from a variety of fields which cast serious doubts on Darwinian theory. The book has been written to enable non-scientists to assess the validity of the findings for themselves.
International Research in Science and Soccer showcases the very latest research into the world's most widely played sport. With contributions from world-leading researchers and practitioners working at every level of the game, from grass roots to elite level, the book covers every key aspect of preparation and performance, including: contemporary issues in soccer coaching psychological preparation and development of players physical preparation and development of players nutrition and recovery talent identification and development strength and conditioning in soccer injury prevention and rehabilitation soccer academies. Sports scientists, trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, psychologists, educational officers and professionals working in soccer will find this in-depth, comprehensive volume an essential and up-to-date resource. The papers contained within this volume were first presented at The First World Congress on Science and Soccer, held in May 2008 in Liverpool, UK. The meeting was held under the auspices of the World Commission of Science and Sports.
For more than 2000 years, Western science has been based on absolutes. Things are black or white, alive or dead, all or nothing. As human beings we know the world is not really like this, that degrees exist between the extremes. But until now science has been unable to accommodate these uncertainties. Fuzzy logic is a scientific revolution that has been waiting to happen for decades – and its central tenets will dramatically change the relationship human beings have with the world. The question is to what degree. In this absorbing, iconoclastic account of the head-spinning possibilities for fuzzy technology, Bart Kosko, fuzzy logic's most famous and combative apostle, urges us to abandon the debilitating binary world and turn to the East, for the future will be 'fuzzy'. ‘One day I learned that science was not true. I do not recall the day but I recall the moment. The God of the twentieth century was no longer God.’ "An exciting alternative form of logic" "'Fuzzy Thinking' is about… a radically different way of structuring our thoughts and experience … that transforms our perception of reality." "'Fuzzy Logic' works… It will become a significant technological force" "Bart Kosko is an extraordinary and polymathic combination of talents" "Bart Kosko is the quintessential scientific cyberpunk – a hip, street-smart prophet of life in the Information Age" "Fuzzy Logic is the cocaine of science"
This book helps meet an urgent need for theorized, accessible and discipline-sensitive publications to assist science, technology, engineering and mathematics educators. The book introduces Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) and demonstrates how it can be used to improve teaching and learning in tertiary courses across the sciences. LCT provides a suite of tools which science educators can employ in order to help their students grasp difficult and dense concepts. The chapters cover a broad range of subjects, including biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics, as well as different curriculum, pedagogy and assessment practices. This is a crucial resource for any science educator who wants to better understand and improve their teaching.
Using real-life examples to illustrate the performance of learning algorithms and instructing readers how to apply them to practical applications, this work offers a comprehensive treatment of subspace learning algorithms for neural networks. The authors summarize a decade of high quality research offering a host of practical applications. They demonstrate ways to extend the use of algorithms to fields such as encryption communication, data mining, computer vision, and signal and image processing to name just a few. The brilliance of the work lies with how it coherently builds a theoretical understanding of the convergence behavior of subspace learning algorithms through a summary of chaotic behaviors.
This unique encyclopedia explores the historical and contemporary controversies between science and religion. It is designed to offer multicultural and multi-religious views, and provide wide-ranging perspectives. "Science, Religion, and Society" covers all aspects of the religion and science dichotomy, from humanities to social sciences to natural sciences, and includes articles by theologians, religion scholars, physicians, scientists, historians, and psychologists, among others. The first section, General Overviews, contains essays that provide a road map for exploring the major challenges and questions in science and religion. Following this, the Historical Perspectives section grounds these major questions in the past, and demonstrates how they have developed into the six broad areas of contemporary research and discussion that follow. These sections - Creation, the Cosmos, and Origins of the Universe; Ecology, Evolution, and the Natural World; Consciousness, Mind, and the Brain; Healers and Healing; Dying and Death; and Genetics and Religion - organize the questions and research that are the foundation of the enormous interest, and controversy, in science and religion today.
This volume collects selected papers presented and discussed during the 9th National Conference organized by the Italian Association of Materials Engineering, AIMAT from 2008 at Piano di Sorrento (Napoli, Italy). It gives a valuable representation of highlights of the research and development activities running in 21 Italian universities and research centers in the field of materials science and engineering. All the reported research topics are focused on a methodological approach that takes into account scientific issues and engineering aspects related to real applications.
This work is the story of 15 billion years of cosmic evolution, transforming matter and life into consciousness, how science and civilization grew up together and the forces and individuals who helped shape modern science. The book aims to make scientific ideas accesssible and exciting. It is based on the television series of the same name. Subjects covered include the ancient library of Alexandria, the death of the sun, the evolution of galaxies, space missions and hieroglyphics.
The field-tested probes are short, easy to administer, and ready to reproduce. Volume 2 suggests ways to embed the probes throughout your instruction, not just when starting a unit or topic.
Examining environmental issues throughout the world, this reference title contains thorough definitions and explanations of terms relating to the environment. The volume includes detailed maps, an extensive bibliography and a Who's Who section, making this an essential one-stop reference work for anyone interested in environmental issues. Features of this title include: an updated A-Z section of key terms and issues surrounding the environment a comprehensive directory section organized alphabetically by country, listing main governmental and non-governmental organizations, both national and international a series of maps showing environmental features both regionally and world-wide an extensive bibliography of relevant periodicals a comprehensive who's who section of the leading personalities actively involved with environmental affairs. This new edition includes three revised and updated essays on The Politics of the Environment: 'International Environmental Politics and the State' - by Hugh Dyer 'International Organizations and the Global Environment' - by Hannes R. Stephan and Fariborz Zelli 'The Ethical Dimentionsof Global Environmental Change' - by Chukwumerije Okereke
Qualitative Research: Analyzing Life, Second Edition presents a fresh approach to teaching and learning qualitative methods for social inquiry-one that focuses on analysis from the very beginning of the text. By exploring qualitative research through a unique analytic lens, then cumulatively elaborating on methods in each successive chapter, this innovative work cultivates a skill set and literacy base that prepares readers to work strategically with empirical materials in their own fieldwork. Johnny Saldana and Matt Omasta combine clear, accessible writing and analytic insight to show that analysis, in its broadest sense, is a process undertaken throughout the entire research experience. The Second Edition provides a number of updates including more on digital materials and methods, including sentiment analysis of social media data, and ethics in social media research. Resources for instructors and students are available on a website to accompany the book.
An introduction to insect physiology, genetics and behaviour which looks at the interaction between humans and insects, and explores both the positive and negative aspects of the relationship.
Science fiction is a literary genre based on scientific speculation. Works of science fiction use the ideas and the vocabulary of all sciences to create valid narratives that explore the future effects of science on events and human beings. "Science Fact and Science" "Fiction" examines in one volume how science has propelled science-fiction and, to a lesser extent, how science fiction has influenced the sciences. Although coverage will discuss the science behind the fiction from the Classical Age to the present, focus is naturally on the 19th century to the present, when the Industrial Revolution and spectacular progress in science and technology triggered an influx of science-fiction works speculating on the future. As scientific developments alter expectations for the future, the literature absorbs, uses, and adapts such contextual visions. The goal of the "Encyclopedia "is not to present a catalog of sciences and their application in literary fiction, but rather to study the ongoing flow andcounterflow of influences, including how fictional representations of science affect how we view its practice and disciplines. Although the main focus is on literature, other forms of science fiction, including film and video games, are explored and, because science is an international matter, works from non-English speaking countries are discussed as needed. |
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