The first lecture of the 2015-2016 IB Biology class

1. Introduction to IB Biology
http://www.greenasitgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/beneficial-bacteria-purple-
background.jpg

2. So what is science?
 “the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the
systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical
and natural world through observation and experiment.”
“Middle English (denoting knowledge): from Old French, from Latin scientia, from scire
‘know”
(google.com)
 Observation? Experiment?
 The underlying assumption of science is that the universe has
an independent, external reality accessible to human senses
and amenable to human reason.

3. Science (is):
Exciting
useful ongoing
asks questions about the natural world
aims to explain and understand
works with testable ideas
relies on evidence
embedded in the scientific community
Participants in science behave scientifically http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_01

4. Homework and in-class tasks
The keywords shown before have been taken
from a website shown here.
Split in groups of two or three. Choose two or
three keywords, mine information from the
website and present them in class.
Presentations are due Thursday.
Lets see what you know about in-class
presentattions.
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0
/whatisscience_01

5. Homework and in-class tasks
Is Astrology a science?
Read the relevant webpages from the University
of Berkley.
Then, use the science checklist (How scientific is
it) and try to see how many ticks you will get for
Astrology
For every statement of the science checklist you
have to write a small paragraph explaining why
you chose to tick or why you didn’t tick it
Homework due next Monday
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/
0_0_0/whatisscience_03

6. Scientists use a wide variety of methodologies which taken together, make up
the process of science.
There is no single “scientific method”.
The scientific method
Scientists have used, and do
use, different methods at
different times to build up their
knowledge and ideas but they
have a common understanding
about what makes them all
scientifically valid.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Scientists_use
_a_low_temperature_scanning_electron_microscope_(LT-
SEM)_to_view_anatomical_structures_needed_to_identify_nematodes
_like_the_Parasitorhabditis_-_USDA-ARS.jpg

7. How science works: the flowchart
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceflowchart

8. Science and the nature of science –
elements of ToK
 What is science and what is the scientific endeavour?
 The understanding of science (theories, laws etc)
 The objectivity of science
 The human face of science
 Scientific literacy and the public understanding of science
http://www.clivecouldwell.com/images/scienc
e_cartoon.jpg

9. So what is Biology??
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Legionella_p
neumophila_(SEM)_2.jpg

10. So what is biology?
 Simplistically, Biology is the study of life.
 the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that
cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and
distribution.
(google.com)
 The first organisms appeared on the planet over 3 billion years ago
and, through reproduction and natural selection, have given rise to
the 8 million or so different species alive today.
 This diversity makes biology both an endless source of fascination
and a considerable challenge.

11. "Nautilus". Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons -
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nautilus.jpg#/media/File:Nautilus.j
pg
"Monocelis fusca 2" by Christopher Laumer -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89882529@N00/4563532237/i
n/set-72157624081798388/. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via
Wikimedia Commons -
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monocelis_fusca_2
.jpg#/media/File:Monocelis_fusca_2.jpg
http://ww2.valdosta.edu/~jlgoble/Sea%20Anemo
ne%20Diadumene%20Dia%2030cm%201.JPG
STRUCTURE

12. FUNCTION
Division in bacteria Mitosis

13. Levels of organization
Emerging properties
Exercise in-class

14. Ok, so where do we start from?? –
Objectives
1. appreciate scientific study and creativity within a global context
through stimulating and challenging opportunities
2. acquire a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that
characterize science and technology
3. apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that
characterize science and technology
4. develop an ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize scientific
information
5. develop a critical awareness of the need for, and the value of,
effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities
IB-Biology guide

15. The assessment objectives
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
a. facts, concepts and terminology
b. methodologies and techniques
c. communicating scientific information.
2. Apply:
a. facts, concepts and terminology
b. methodologies and techniques
c. methods of communicating scientific information.
3. Formulate, analyse and evaluate:
a. hypotheses, research questions and predictions
b. methodologies and techniques
c. primary and secondary data
d. scientific explanations.
4. Demonstrate the appropriate research, experimental, and personal skills necessary to
carry out insightful and ethical investigations.
IB-Biology guide

16. Structure of the material
IB-Biology guide

17. Structure of the material
IB-Biology guide

18. http://www.stepsinbiology.eu