Grade Level(s):
- College
Source:
- UC Museum of Paleontology
Resource type:
- research profile
- Science Story
Discipline:
- Life Science
Time: 1 hour
Overview
This research profile tells the story of Emilia Huerta-Sánchez and how she uses mathematical modeling to answer evolutionary questions. Students examine data visualizations and learn about the process of science while focusing on adaptations, allele frequencies, and natural selection. Get tips on using Science Stories in class.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science is both a body of knowledge and the process for building that knowledge.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science aims to build increasingly broad and coherent explanations of the natural world.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science focuses on natural phenomena and processes.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science works only with testable ideas.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Scientists strive to test their ideas with evidence from the natural world; a hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as new ideas surface and new evidence is discovered.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science is ongoing; answering one scientific question frequently leads to additional questions to be investigated.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Scientists test their ideas (hypotheses and theories) by figuring out what expectations are generated by an idea and making observations to find out whether those expectations are borne out.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Scientists look for patterns in their observations and data.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Raw data must be analyzed and interpreted before we can tell whether a scientific idea is likely to be accurate or inaccurate.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Analysis of data usually involves putting data into a more easily accessible format (visualization, tabulation, or quantification of qualitative data).
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Researchers share their findings with the scientific community through scientific publications.
- [The social side of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists usually work collaboratively.
- [The social side of science: Grades 13-16] The scientific community is global and diverse.
- [The social side of science: Grades 13-16] Anyone can participate in science, but the pursuit of science as a career often requires extensive formal training.
- [The social side of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists are creative.