Science Discovery Exploring, Describing, & Explaining the Natural World
May 30, 2020: The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft delivering a crew to the international space station
When you think of “science discovery” you may think of space missions, deep sea submersibles, or adventures to the polar ice.
All of these are examples of science discovery, but even if you never explore extreme extreme habitats, you can still engage in meaningful science adventures.
The process of science discovery includes exploration, description, and explanation.
This video introduces the process of science discovery and it will be followed by specific examples.
Exploration
Investigating new (to you) natural phenomena. Can be a new location, or a new way of viewing familiar surroundings.
Description
Providing accurate details about a natural phenomenon. Can include a detailed sketch or photograph of an organism, or documenting the steps of a process, like a bud opening on a tree.
Explanation
Providing information on how or why something happens. Can be a simple cause and effect, or a much more detailed process like an experiment testing variables.
Let’s see science discovery in action with a trip to the pacific coast.
Nye beach in Newport, Oregon is a popular tourist destination
This is a habitat that many people just walk past instead of exploring…
This gives you an idea of scale, Mark is taking a photo.
Exploration is investigating new phenomena, in this case, organisms on a microhabitat (small living space), a rock that is exposed at low tide.
These are the photos Mark is taking of the surface of the rock.
On the rock are numerous organisms. The next step is to accurately describe what is observed.
Barnacles
Some of the organisms are barnacles. There are small (less than 1″ diameter) cone-shaped mineral structures with animals inside.
Different Species
The different shapes of the mineral cones, different sizes, and groupings suggest that there may be two or more different species on the rock.
The next step is to explain what you are describing.
There is a lot to explain. For example:
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How do two species of barnacles coexist on the same rock? (more on this in a later section on competition)
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How do other species interact with barnacles? (later section on food webs).
Explanation may take more detailed examination and description, for example, viewing the barnacles underwater. Experimentation may be necessary to determine whether explanations accurately predict what is occurring in nature.
Scientists use these three processes to develop science knowledge.
Exploration, description, and explanation can also be used to develop personal understandings of the natural world.
Exploration Activities
Examples: Traveling to a habitat you have not previously visited; searching for small organisms in your home; using new equipment to broaden your observations like a smartphone camera, magnifying glass, binoculars, or telescope.
Description Activities
Examples: detailed journaling about an organism in the field; video or photo essay of a habitat changing over time; visiting a zoo or aquarium to record observations you could not easily make in the field.
