Description:
| Aims: To familiarise the student with the nature of scientific enquiry as a collective human enterprise, and the organisation, funding, communication and ethics of contemporary science. Areas in which there are differences of opinion and potential conflict are emphasised.
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to:
* discuss the nature and organisation of science, making reference to such aspects as scientific communication, funding, intellectual property and professional, social and environmental responsibility;
* work both as part of a team and independently to present a case;
* engage fairly with matters of controversy and formulate their own opinions.
Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Group working T/F, Career preparation T/F.
Content:
* The nature of science as a method of human enquiry: a brief survey of ideas on philosophy of science.
* Funding and control: who decides what science should be done?
* Intellectual property and the public good.
* Publication of science: scientific writing, primary literature and reviews; the editorial process; peer review, good and bad; open aces literature.
* Professional and social responsibility: the scientist's duties to the employer, the Public Interest, environmental preservation etc.
* Ethics and values: some principles and implications.
* Error and deception in science.
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