The main insight you should get from today is to realize how earth scientists think and learn about the earth.  We will visit several places of wild beauty, where we will see a landscape being shaped by active processes. We will propose hypotheses (claims), make observations and tests.  We will empower our own tests by believing and trusting them. We will discover that knowledge must endure repeated testing. We will find that disproving hypotheses is progress. We will find that we must use principles from other fields to test earth science ideas---math, physics, chemistry, biology....  There is very practical value for earth sciences--correct understanding leads to real benefits that solve day to day problems. We will see that some hypotheses which seem quite important are difficult to thoroughly test.

Read Chapter 3, Michigan Geography and Geology

Misconceptions:  Big Idea #1:

1. 1.Science is a collection of facts
   

2. 2.There is a single scientific method that all scientists follow.
   

3. 3.Science ideas are absolute and unchanging.
   

4. 4.Investigations that do not reach firm conclusions are useless.
   

5. 5.Science is pure and scientists work with no consideration of applications.
   

6. 6.Science is done by old white men.
   

7. 7.Science is too complex for a layperson to understand.
   

8. 8.Science is like a debate--it is a game of clever arguements.
   

9. 9.Scientists are all atheists and liberals.