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Observations in Science. Why Looking first is so important to the scientific method and any good scientist. Why Must we Observe in the first place?. All scientists must be patient; taking the time to truly study what you are investigating helps one think things through
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Observations in Science Why Looking first is so important to the scientific method and any good scientist
Why Must we Observe in the first place? • All scientists must be patient; taking the time to truly study what you are investigating helps one think things through • If you don’t look at the world around you, how can you ever hope to understand how it works? • It’s tradition. Before the invention of computers, cameras, and film, scientists had to study wildlife and experiments the old-fashioned way---by looking
Best way to Observe • Simple: A pencil and paper • All good biologists/naturalists kept field journals • When they were researching a particular phenomenon or animal, they would stop wherever the event occurred and record as much as they could via plain eyesight transference (aka drawing) • Some of the most important discoveries in science were recorded via nothing more than a pen or pencil (or paints)
Leonardo Da vinci (1452-1517)Famous Painter, Inventor, Engineer • Famous during the Renaissance • Used his sketch book to record thousands of ideas and inventions that came to him • Recorded first anatomical drawings of man as seen on right in the Vitruvian Man • One of first people to consider man taking flight
Maria Sybilla Merian (1647-1717)First Entomologist • A flower painter and engraver • Traveled to a foreign country without a man to draw her organisms (very unthinkable during this time period) • Set a new standard for accuracy in a time of mythical beasts • Helped spur scientific revolution • Painting seen here: Soursop
Portrait of Merian and One of her Paintings • Portrait by Grenadier • Peanut-head Lantern Moth
John Gould (1804-1881)Famous Ornithologist/Artist • In his life time, John Gould produced over 41 volumes comprised of 2,999 plates of artistic observations of animals in their native habitats • His work is known world-wide thanks to the Audubon • Work seen here: Monograph of Trogons (1858)
Lewis and Clark • One of the most famous American expeditions • During their time on the plains, these two men recorded numerous species, kept detailed records, and are famous for their knack at detail • Great volumes of knowledge came from these two men’s ability at observation • Sketch titled: Grizzly Bear
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!! • Remember that scientific sketches aren’t supposed to be pieces of art • They are nothing more than another means of studying an experiment of natural observation • Therefore you will not be graded on beauty, but effort • Sketching is like any other skill, it takes practice at first!! Do not give up!!