In class we watched a part of the film Particle Fever, about the CERN project, a collaboration of scientists from around the world who built a large hadron collider meant to assist scientists in proving a number of theories including the existence of the Higgs Boson or God Particle.
I was impressed at the way in which science was used to bring up to 100 nationalities to work collaboratively; regardless of political views this was all about proving a theory and science. The film was able to teach people with very little knowledge about physics about such a complex theory. It was interesting to see scientists actually working through their problems and trying to find solutions. The use of the various W.O.K to confirm a theory that could really revolutionize science.
When the experiment failed there were lot of emotions displayed, the disappointment and frustration was explicitly shown by the body language of the scientists. Although instead of letting emotion get in the way of gaining knowledge. The scientists were ever more driven to actually prove this theory. With the large amount of pressure placed on the scientists it was really exciting to see how scientists dealt with meeting deadlines.
I thought about how sometimes doing an experiment in chemistry is similar. We first have to plan the experiment, then actually do the experiment. Sometimes the right values are not obtained, but rather than allowing the wrong answer from stopping us. We keep trying till we get the right balance in order to get the right answer.
I found it interesting when some of the scientists chose to pray. It was odd, there has always been a clash when people mix science and the divine force. Generally, science had gone against some religious teachers in the past. Scientists are rational and use W.O.Ks to accept facts and theories and to put their faith into god after all their hard work was quite interesting.
Overall, watching the film, I had an insight into knowledge creation in the natural sciences. Also illustrations of the WOKs used by theoretical physicists and those used by experimental physicists. Where theorists use math to test their theory. While experimental physicists actually have to do the experiment to gain the knowledge. They generally work together to confirm their theories.
I was impressed at the way in which science was used to bring up to 100 nationalities to work collaboratively; regardless of political views this was all about proving a theory and science. The film was able to teach people with very little knowledge about physics about such a complex theory. It was interesting to see scientists actually working through their problems and trying to find solutions. The use of the various W.O.K to confirm a theory that could really revolutionize science.
When the experiment failed there were lot of emotions displayed, the disappointment and frustration was explicitly shown by the body language of the scientists. Although instead of letting emotion get in the way of gaining knowledge. The scientists were ever more driven to actually prove this theory. With the large amount of pressure placed on the scientists it was really exciting to see how scientists dealt with meeting deadlines.
I thought about how sometimes doing an experiment in chemistry is similar. We first have to plan the experiment, then actually do the experiment. Sometimes the right values are not obtained, but rather than allowing the wrong answer from stopping us. We keep trying till we get the right balance in order to get the right answer.
I found it interesting when some of the scientists chose to pray. It was odd, there has always been a clash when people mix science and the divine force. Generally, science had gone against some religious teachers in the past. Scientists are rational and use W.O.Ks to accept facts and theories and to put their faith into god after all their hard work was quite interesting.
Overall, watching the film, I had an insight into knowledge creation in the natural sciences. Also illustrations of the WOKs used by theoretical physicists and those used by experimental physicists. Where theorists use math to test their theory. While experimental physicists actually have to do the experiment to gain the knowledge. They generally work together to confirm their theories.
Lots of great ideas and links to your own learning in science classes. I thought it was suspenseful too...what I liked about it was that the discovery of knowledge was much more riveting than the typical action movie. You also note the role of emotion, not usually linked with scientific discovery.
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