Science Education can be creative

WHEN STUDENTS (ESPECIALLY non-science majors) take required science classes, there is a reason. It’s not so that they can learn about the names of the planets or which plants you can eat (but that is useful to know). The primary reason that students are required to take a science class is to help them understand the nature of science.

Let’s focus on just one aspect of the nature of science that often gives students (and all sorts of people) problems.

Science Is a Creative Process

Here are some examples from the history of science.

• Einstein used curved space-time to explain gravity (and other things).
• Euler and Lagrange created the calculus of variations in order to solve the brachistochrone problem (path between two points with the shortest time). Oh, and calculus of variations is used in Lagrangian Mechanics—so it’s sort of a big deal.
• Schrödinger developed an equation with wave-like properties to use in Quantum Mechanics.
• Bohr created a model of the atom to explain the spectrum of light produced by hydrogen gas.

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