The Science for Non-Scientists project website has not been significantly updated since 2013. We are preserving the web pages here because they still contain useful ideas and content. But be aware that the site may have out of date information.
Initial Publication Date: July 24, 2013

Lecture Presentations


Week 1:

Course Overview: Scientific Ways of Knowing (PowerPoint 6MB Jul3 12)

Week 2:

Scientific Ways of Knowing Ptolemy & Copernicus

Week 3:

Galileo & Natural Observation
Galileo & Experimentation

Week 4:

Equinox & Eratosthenes Logical Fallacies, Galileo & Experimentation

Week 5:

Graphs and Graphing Statistics (Emperical)

Week 6:

Newton & Theoretical Approaches Probabilities (Theoretical)

Week 7:

Plate Tectonics Plate Tectonics

Week 8:

Plate Tectonics Midterm Exam

Week 9:

Evolution
  • Lecture: Evolution (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 12.8MB Jul12 12)
Plate Tectonics

Week 10:

Evolution and Darwin's Idea Darwin's Finches

Week 11:

Sex, Sexual Selection, and Natural Selection
Human Evolution

Week 12:

Climate Change
Climate Change
  • Lecture: Climate Change - Day 2 (PowerPoint 10.3MB Jul12 12)
    • Historical development (Until ~1980)
    • Keeling curve
    • Geological archive activity
    • CFCs, Ozone, & Treaties
    • Development of Numerical Models

Week 13:

Climate Change

Week 14:

Climate Change Climate Change

Week 15:

Climate Change
  • In-class exercises:
    • Science/Society interactions on climate change
    • IPCC group discussion
Climate Change
  • Science/Society interactions on climate change
  • Copenhagen media