Demystifying
science
Slide 1
Important questions about science
• What is science?
The systematic pursuit of knowledge
A way to find out true answers to questions
• Why do we need science?
Because common sense is often wrong
Slide 2
Scientific method
1. Clearly identifying the problem
Needs to define what will be tested
2. Formulating a hypothesis
Based on observations
3. Testing the hypothesis
Need to change one variable only- all other
variables must be kept constant
Need for a control group
Slide 3
?
Scientific method
• New drug for
headache
• How do we
know if it
works?
Slide 4
Scientific method
Science is not always
about doing ‘an
experiment’- scientific
observation is crucial
Slide 5
Scientific method
• A scientist wanted to test the effect of talking to his plants
on how they grew. He didn't talk to one group of plants, and
talked for varying amounts to 3 other groups. After one
month, he measured how tall the plants grew.
A. What was the experimental variable in this experiment?
B. What was the control group?
C. What was the data he collected?
D. What would be three variables that he would have to
control?
Slide 6
Scientific consensus
Consensus
Uncertainty
The Earth is round
Theory of evolution by
natural selection
Human activity
contributes to climate
change
HIV causes AIDs
What will the exact impact
of climate change be?
What will the next global
pandemic be?
How big is the universe?
Slide 7
Weighting of arguments
Prate, Wikimedia Commons
Slide 8
Scientific publications
Policy briefing
•Includes policy implications
Review paper
•Describes scientific consensus
•No methods
Primary research paper
•Peer reviewed
•Background, methods,
results, conclusions
Slide 9
Quiz
Define:
• Scientific consensus
• Peer-reviewed
• Control Group
• Placebo effect
• Hypothesis
Slide 10
Summary
• On pieces of paper, write down what the main points you have
learnt in this session are
e.g.
• Science is a way to answer questions
• Scientific method involves defining a question, formulating a
hypothesis and testing the hypothesis
• There are different ‘tiers’ of science publications
• Scientists need to publish papers to progress in their careers
Slide 11
Example of science publications: Malaria control
• What are the issues for policy makers?
Look at scientific publications
• What is it?
– primary research paper?
– review article?
– policy briefing/report?
•
•
•
•
•
Slide 12
Who is it aimed at?
Does it reflect scientific consensus?
Does it give policy options?
Is it easy to understand?
How useful is it for policy makers?
Science in Africa
Slide 13
What is science?
Science is the [intensive] human effort to
understand, or to understand better the
history of the natural world and how the
natural world works
•
It is done through observation of natural
phenomena, and/or through experimentation
• And its based on observable physical evidence.
Slide 14
Types of science
Slide 15
Benefits of science
Individual Benefits
• Discovery of new things hence increased knowledge
Societal Benefits
• Improve peoples lives
• Economic Development- e.g. help attain MDG’s
• Humanity’s increase control of planet or environment
Slide 16
Many Special delicacies have one special ingredient
Research is the ‘special ingredient’ that makes science delicious
What is Research?
. The systematic process of collecting
and analyzing information to increase
understanding of the phenomenon
under study
. Broadest sense of the word, the
definition of research includes any
gathering of data, information and
facts for the advancement of
knowledge
Slide 17
Case study 1: Medical Research in Malawi
Example: Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW)
What is MLW?
•
Medical Research Programme affiliated to University of Malawi, College of Medicine (the only
medical school is Malawi) and funded by The Wellcome Trust, UK
When was it established?
•
Established in 1995 originally as a Malaria Project but diversified in 2003
Example projects
•HIV testing in children
•Iron Supplementation for children with HIV
•Comparison of two new Malaria drugs in children
Slide 18
Case study 2: Agricultural Research in Uganda
Example: The Fight against Cassava Viruses
•
Cassava is an important staple in many countries.
•
Late 1980s, a new strain of cassava mosaic virus emerged.
•
The Virus was highly powerful and aggressive
•
Result - starvation in some districts of Uganda as many communities lost their principal source of
carbohydrates.
•
The government- demanded action.
•Scientists responded by demonstrating that there was sufficient genetic diversity of cassava
plants available for the national cassava breeding programme to mobilise.
•The outcome was to increase food security in Uganda.
•Today cassava production is restored to former levels and able to generate a surplus
Slide 19
Case study 3: Social Research in Egypt
Example: Combating Drug Addiction
•
•
•
An estimated 8.5% of Egyptians are addicted to drugs
The most commonly used drug is Bango- a type of marijuana- but other
drugs including heroin are also used
The Center for Social and Criminological Research on Drugs carried
out a study to design a national strategy to combat drugs and to
provide treatment for drug addicts in Egypt
Slide 20
Case study 4: Health Policy Research in Ghana
Ghana Health Service Research Centres
• Primarily to generate information for policy
consideration
– Work closely with programme implementers
and policy makers in defining the problem.
– Design appropriate research methods for
answering the questions
– Analyse and report appropriately
• Facilitate the policy dialogue
• Monitoring and evaluation of interventions
• Example projects:
–
–
–
–
Tobacco Use & Control
Strategies for Health Insurance for Equity in less
Developed Countries (SHEILD) in Ghana, South
Africa & Tanzania
HIV/AIDS
Malaria and Pneumonia
Slide 21
21
Slide 22
Source: Global
Research Report-Africa,
Thomson Reuters
Research output
GDP
Research output/GDP
Slide 23
Source: Global
Research Report-Africa,
Thomson Reuters
Challenges facing scientific research in Africa
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of sufficient funding
Insufficient trained
personnel
Negative attitude of the
public and policy makers
towards science in general
Lack of trust by
communities?
Poor infrastructure?
Brain drain?
Slide 24
Group exercise
Goal: developing country specific goals for the
advancement of science information in African
parliaments
• Get into groups of approximately 5
• Discuss why should we do research in Africa?
• Discuss what strategy you would like to adopt in
promoting knowledge about science in our respective
parliaments?
Share with the rest of the group
Slide 25
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Slide 26