phsical geology

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Why this book?

Or maybe at this point you would rather say: Why another book to read, isn’t there enough to do for this class already? L

I am not going to deny that indeed you already have a lot on your plate in this class; nevertheless .. hear me up because I think it’s important: reading this book, or at least part of it as you are supposed to do for this exercise, will give you a better understanding of how the process of science works in the real world, beyond the definition of the Scientific Method.

Look at a pretty standard definition of the Scientific Method, like this one:

The scientific method is a body of techniques used to systematically investigate natural phenomena, to acquire new knowledge, or to correct and integrate previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry has to be based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The essence of the scientific method is the gathering of systematic observations and measurements, in order to formulate hypotheses which are then to be tested with experiments, and modified, when necessary, based on experimental results.

After you read this, what does come to your mind? Probably that the whole process is very rational, with scientists gathering in labs, wearing white coats, around the fire of knowledge, and as fully rational being apply this process:

Like they were computers, … no emotions, nothing personal. Scientists are people, individuals, and

like any other person, they’re not perfect, and their personal characteristics, their personal life and experiences, are relevant to their actions, and the choices they make. Hence the progress of science is something more than just the rigid rational application of a set of rules. However … and this is a big HOWEVER … don’t make the mistake to think that because scientist are people like any other, then it

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follows that their training as scientists doesn’t matter, or that the process of science and the scientific method are irrelevant! On the contrary, it is precisely due to this training, and through the use of the scientific method, that personal biases, mistakes, and anything not objectively connected to the available data, are gradually winnowed out, and that the data supported explanation for the occurrence of an investigated phenomena – what scientists call theory – emerges and takes its place among the accepted scientific body of knowledge.

I would like to quote directly from the book at this point, and you’ll understand more after you read it of course:

“ Why did scientists reject the four theories discussed in this book for so long, only to have later generations come to regard them as virtually self-evident? The answer is now plain: scientists accepted the theories when data demanded that they do so. To call themselves scientists, they had no choice. ”

In the book the author describes the birth of new ideas, and the process, both human and scientific, that leads to their general acceptance as scientific truths. He selected four of the major historical issues whose acceptance shaped modern geology, but that are also relevant for science in general, and presented them from an historical point of view, without neglecting the scientific aspects of course.

Through his narration you will be introduced not only to the process, but also to the key thinkers of the time, that were instrumental to the development of each theory. You will meet – well at least to a certain extent – the physicist Ernst Rutherford, the mathematician, engineer and physicist Lord Kelvin, the biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, the geologist Arthur Holmes, and many others whose work, ideas, support but also opposition to the new theories, played a paramount role in the development of geology as a quantitative modern science.

Now … the rules, or: what do you exactly have to do for this assignment? Well the book has four sections:

1. Deep Time 2. Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics 3. Meteorite Impact 4. Global Warming

First of all .. read the introduction in the book, then select the section you want to work on. Actually I do hope that you will become curious enough to read the whole book, but I understand that there is already a lot of work to do, that’s why I limited the assignment to only one section J

Regardless of the section you have selected, once you are finished reading it, I also strongly suggest you to read the last chapter: From Heresy to Truth. It will help you to put all the material into a broader context.

By the way … I am sure that at this point you have already accessed the book using the instructions I provided in the main page of this module. Of course I selected a book that is freely available to all VT students in electronic format, but if you become curious enough and you want to buy a hard copy, you’ll see that is not very expensive and that it’s worth the money. At least I hope that you will agree at the end of the exercise!

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Your task will be to write a report, so download the report template I prepared for you first. Remember to fill the spaces I prepared with the necessary information.

Section 1: If you have doubts about what writing in the first part of this report, just think of it this way: imagine that a friend asked you what is that section you just read about. What would you include in the explanation?

Section 2: this part is a short essay, and while you need to address at least these four points, it is meant to be pretty open form. I am interested in your personal thoughts and reflections on the subject.

At this point you are probably sort of interested in knowing how are you going to be graded, right? Well I’ll be honest with you. I am not going to be picky, so RELAX. I am not going to criticize your opinions, and – to a certain extent – I might even tolerate some spelling errors J

However: • No sloppy work. It’s not a big deal if instead of exactly 800 words your summary is 799, or

789. But a short, quick and dirty, work … done at the last minute … it will definitely show. Expect to be penalized accordingly in this case.

• Believe it or not … I will read all your work – that’s why it’s going to take a while before you see the score for this project. So if you just throw few sentences at random, maybe taken from the book … that will show too. Expect to be penalized if that will be the case.

SHORT STORY: start early and take your time to read the section you selected carefully, take notes, think about it. And you will be fine for sure.

NEXT TO THE LAST SUGGESTION: The book has an extensive bibliographic section, and maybe … just maybe … when writing the short essay, you may want to check and see if there’s something there worth to read, for a deeper understanding of the particular subject.

FINALLY: Keep in touch as needed during the work. When in doubt … ask me first.

1. Download the report template from the main page; 2. REMEMBER TO FILL THE SPACES I CREATED WITH YOUR NAME, PID AND LAST 4 DIGITS

OF YOUR STUDENT ID. 3. Complete the first part of the report, summarizing the section of the book you just read. The summary

will have to be between 800 and 2000 words. Respect the formatting I have included in the template; 4. Complete the second part of the report. This is a short essay you need to write on the section that you just

read, addressing AT THE VERY LEAST what follows: i. Who are the key figures in this story, and why do you think they were fundamental for the

acceptance, and also delay of acceptance of this theory? ii. Do you think that it could have happened differently (i.e. with a different outcome), or that there

was no chance that the theory could have been accepted earlier? iii. What have you learned regarding science and its process after reading this section? iv. Add your personal consideration and thoughts, in free form!