History of Science Research Project

Bill Stifler     ENGL1010

Chattanooga State Technical Community College

 

 

Purpose Format Focus
Types of Scientists Scientists
Pathfinder: Library Internet

 

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Purpose

One criticism frequently lodged against the educational system is that schools turn out students who have little interest in or knowledge of math and science. The purpose of this paper is to enhance our understanding of what it is that a scientist does and to expose us to some of the men and women of science who have been influential in advancing scientific research and understanding and, in consequence, have helped to shape our modern world.

 

 

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Format

Students will write a research paper 5-7 pages in length (1250-1750 words) researching the life and work of a prominent scientist (see attached list of suggested names). Students may use any sources available--books, journals, magazines--but must have a minimum of five printed sources. Students will do an annotated bibliography (typewritten) of these sources including each citation in MLA format (Capital Community-Technical College in Hartford, CT, had a Guide for Writing Research Papers with useful information on MLA citations) and a brief description of the source, its value and the type of information it contains relative to the scientist being researched. For online databases available from our library, MLA Citation Examples for Online Databases lists examples of how to document sources from some of the databases available through the Chattanooga State library.

 

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Focus

The research paper will include biographical information and information regarding the scientific project(s) of the scientist under study. Students may select any scientist to study or may focus on several scientists who collaborated on a project. All research topics must be approved by the instructor. Students will focus on the following types of information/questions:

Biographical Information (1-2 pages)
  • birth, death
  • early influences
  • awards, prizes, honors received
  • publications
  • other relevant personal and professional data

Scientific Project (3-4 pages)

  • What question was the scientist seeking to answer; what problem was he/she seeking to solve?
  • Define key terms, principles, or processes
  • Identify any co-workers and their contributions
  • What was approach--theoretical, application, technological? (see Calder below)
  • Ground this scientist's work in the scientific study of the time; that is, how did this scientist's work contribute to the scientific efforts of his/her age?

Significance/Influence/Outcomes (1-2 pages)

  • What resulted from this scientist's work?
  • What ancillary discoveries did this scientist make?
  • Who else was influenced by this scientist or built on this scientist's work?
  • Why was this work important? What was the value of this scientist's contribution?

 

Additional questions to consider

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Types of Scientists

Taken from

Calder, Ritchie. Science in Our Lives. 3rd. ed. New York: Signet, 1962. 50-51.

 

Pure Scientist concerned only with theory
Fundamental Applied Scientist works out basic behaviors of theories
Inventor develops practical applications of theories
Applied scientist works to solve a particular problem requiring a specific answer
Technologist shows how scientific ideas can be put into practice in the industrial process
Technician makes scientific ideas work in industrial situation

 

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Scientists

The following links are provided to give you a quick background on the scientists. I have not had the time to verify that these are good resources for your paper, although I believe most are. If you find a web site that you think is particularly helpful on any of these scientists, let me know, and I will replace the link here with the link you provide.

 

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Pathfinder

History of Science Research Project

Prepared by Steve S. Pec, Reference Librarian
Spring 1996, rev. Summer 2000

This History of Science Research Project focuses on three types of questions: biographical, scientific projects, and significance. The questions proceed from simple factual data to complex evaluation of the scientist's contribution. The following list of selected sources reflects the above pattern of progression.

Biographical information given, the amount varies from several lines to several paragraphs. The latter, often, include bibliographies of additional reading.

  • American Men of Science. Ref Q141 .A47 6v
  • American Men and Women of Science. Ref Ql4l .A474 8v
  • Asimov's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science. Ref Ql4l .A74
  • American Women in Science. Ref Q141 .B25
  • Biographical Dictionary of Scientists. Ref Q141 .B528
  • Biographical Dictionary of Scientists. Ref Q141 .B45 4v
  • Blacks in Science and Medicine. Ref Q141 .B58
  • Current Biography. Ref CT100 .C8 v1--
  • Dictionary of American Biography. Ref E176 .D563 11v
  • Dictionary of National Biography. Ref. DA28 .D4 22v
  • Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Ref Q141 .D5 16v
  • Lifelines Famous Contemporaries from 600 BC to 1975. Ref CT104 .W45
  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ref CT103 .M27 12v
  • Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Ref CT103 .W4
  • Who's Who. Ref DA28 .W6 v1--
  • Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology. Ref Q141 .W57
  • Women in Science. Ref Ql4l .D34
  • World Who's Who in Science. Ref Q141 .W7

Along with biographical information, often, project description and/or its significance are described. Sources for further study are also identified.

  • Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century. Ref Q141.D535
  • Great Engineers and Pioneers in Technology. Ref TA139 .G7
  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry. Ref QD4.M33
  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of Computers. Ref QA76.15. M33 2v
  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics. Ref QC5.M15
  • McGraw-Hill Modern Man of Science. Ref Q141 .M15 2v
  • McGraw-Hill Modern Scientists and Engineers. Ref Q141 .M15 3v
  • Nobel Prize Winners. Chemistry. Ref QD35 .N64 3v
  • Nobel Prize Winners. Physics. Ref QC25 .N63
  • Nobel Prize Winners. Physiology or Medicine. Ref R134 .N633 3v
  • Notable Mathematicians: From Ancient Times to the Present. Ref QA28 .N66
  • Notable Twentieth Century Scientists. Ref Q141 .N73 4v

Project description and/or its outcome and significance are discussed. Sources for further study are also identified.

  • Album of Science. Ref Q125.6 .A42 5v
  • Asimov's New Guide to Science. Ref Q162 .A8
  • Dictionary of the History of Science. Ref Q125 .D45
  • Great Events from History. Science and Technology. Ref Q125 .G825 5v
  • Inventions and Discoveries. Ref Q180.55 .D57 L58
  • Magill's Survey of Science.
    • Applied Science Series. Ref TA145 .M298 6v
    • Earth Science Series. Ref QE28 .M33 5v
    • Life Science Series. Ref QH307.2 .M34 6v
    • Physical Science Series. Ref Q158.5 .M34 6v
  • Milestones in Science and Technology. Ref. Q199 .M68
  • Science and Technology Desk Reference. Ref Q173.5397
  • World of Scientific Discovery. Ref Q126 .W67

Explanations of key terms, principles, or processes are offered.

  • Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology. Ref Q123 .E497 15v
  • Langman Illustrated Science Dictionary. Ref Q123 .G6
  • McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Ref Q123 .M34
  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Ref Q121 .M3 20v
  • Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. Ref Q121 .V3 2v

To find additional sources, many not listed here, use indexes or electronic databases. Indexes list citations to biographical material in books and magazines.

  • Biographical Index to American Science. Ref Q141 .E373
  • Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Ref Z5305 .U5 B57 8v
  • Biography Index. Ref Z5301 .B5 16v
  • Encyclopedia of World Biography. CT103.E56 1998

Electronic databases list citations to books and magazines. In addition, some may offer abstracts.

Library resources added since 1996

  • Concise Science Dictionary Ref Q123.C68
  • Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century Ref Q141.D535
  • Milestones in Science and Technology Ref Q199.M68
  • World of Invention Ref T15.W67
  • American Women in Technology: An Encyclopedia Ref. T 36 Z54 2000

Please, see a Reference Librarian at any time . . .

 

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Internet Resources
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Please notify me at bill.stifler@chattanoogastate.edu regarding any broken links. Thank you.
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Last Modified: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 15:43:22

This page was created by

Bill Stifler, Associate Professor
IMC-223, Developmental Studies
Chattanooga State Technical Community College
4501 Amnicola Hwy.
Chattanooga, TN 37406-1097
(423)697-2527
bill.stifler@chattanoogastate.edu