Courses / Module

The goal of this elective stream to introduce students from all backgrounds (including those with no science backtround) to some of the central ideas and important turning points in scientific thinking. It will focus on the historical development of scientific ideas, but scientific methods and philosophy of science will also feature strongly.

The format will be a combination of lectures and weekly discussion groups, with an emphasis on the latter. Student presentations will play an important role.

This module will focus on some of the big ideas originating in science that have forced us to change our view of the world. It will also give an introduction to the principles of scientific methods used in the disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology and psychology and the differences between these disciplines.

Ideas of science, possible topics include:
• Space and time, from Euclid and Aristotle via Newton to Einstein [2 weeks]
• Chemistry and the atomic theory of matter, from Boyle to Mendeleev [1-2 weeks]
• Order and disorder, useful and useless energy: the second law of thermodynamics [1-2 weeks]
• Evolution, with a focus on human evoloution [1-2 weeks]
• Theories of mind and brain [1-2 weeks]
• Quantum physics and the breakdown of cause and effect [2 weeks]
• The origin of the universe [1 week]
Scientific methodology:
• The use and misuse of statistics in science
• Theories, models, hypotheses and their limitations
• Measurements and controlled experiments in physics and chemistry
• Statistical methods in biology and psychology, including the role of randomised control trials