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Assessing contemporary science
It will explore the ways in which scientific knowledge develops, undergoes peer review and is communicated. The second half of the course will focus more closely on a specific scientific topic – plastics – and give you a chance to practise these skills by considering the topic's social impact, building a glossary of unfamiliar terms, and evaluating relevant information sources.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- critically evaluate statements, different viewpoints and data to reach informed judgements based on scientific evidence
- understand key aspects of areas of scientific knowledge that have personal relevance
- understand some of the wider implications associated with any scientific investigation
- have an appreciation of current thinking on uncertainty, ambiguities and the limits of scientific knowledge
- deploy transferable skills in assessing contemporary science.
First Published: 16/11/2017
Updated: 18/07/2019
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