BERG > HHMI project > Physics Competencies

Competency E2: Demonstrate understanding of the process of scientific inquiry, and explain how scientific knowledge is discovered and validated.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop observational and interpretive skills through hands-on laboratory or field experiences. 

     Examples:

• Collect and interpret primary data for identification of mixtures of compounds.
• Use reduced or partial data to construct three-dimensional representations (e.g., developing organic molecular models from written formulas or modeling a biological structure from analysis of serial sections).
• Demonstrate ability to analyze and infer conclusions based on measurements made during laboratory assays or field observations.

2. Demonstrate ability to measure with precision, accuracy, and safety.

     Examples:

• Consider the accuracy, precision, and reproducibility of primary data from laboratory results to properly analyze and draw conclusions, including the differences between random and systematic sources of error.
• Employ stoichiometric analysis to predict yield and use quantitative measurements to interpret experimental results.
• Be able to use a standard Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to decide on appropriate personal protection and disposal techniques for use of a given chemical.

3. Be able to operate basic laboratory instrumentation for scientific measurement.

     Examples:

• Employ appropriate instrumentation to measure electrical voltages and currents in simple circuits.
• Use appropriate detectors and instrumentation to monitor radioactive decay.
• Calibrate a balance.
• Be familiar with instruments and approaches for major chemical and biochemical separation and purification techniques.
• Identify major chemical or biochemical uses of analytical spectroscopic techniques, such as UV, visible and infrared absorption, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, X-ray, and NMR.

4. Be able to articulate (in guided inquiry or in project-based research) scientific questions and hypotheses, design experiments, acquire data, perform data analysis, and present results.

     Examples:

• Be able to develop a project plan and report: generate a hypothesis, design a protocol with appropriate controls, consider control of relevant variables, collect and analyze quantitative data, draw conclusions, and present the results (e.g., as a scientific seminar, paper, or poster).
• Be able to work within a team to plan and/or achieve a complex goal (e.g., a presentation or an experiment that draws on more than one scientific discipline).
• Be able to read and analyze results presented in a paper from the scientific literature, to develop a hypothesis based on the results, and to describe experiments that test such a hypothesis.
• Develop an exemplary design to achieve a goal, such as an electronic circuit, a molecular synthesis, or an enzyme assay.
• Be able to explain what constitutes plagiarism in contexts of writing and presentation and how to avoid and prevent the falsification and fabrication of data.

5. Demonstrate the ability to search effectively, to evaluate critically, and to communicate and analyze the scientific literature.

     Examples:

• Use appropriate databases to find relevant literature on a topic, and be able to summarize and present the current state of knowledge.
• Evaluate papers in the literature with attention to weaknesses, such as in experimental design (e.g., confounding variables), logic, or conclusions.