Overview

Science is both a body of knowledge about the world and a method for creating new knowledge. Both of these facts about science are very general and philosophical. Science is also very specific and practical. Science is a human endeavor carried out by real people. It moves forward in great leaps only after many individuals contribute thousands of incremental steps.

In science classes you learn about the facts discovered by science and about how to discover new facts and build theories. Less time is spent on exploring the human side of science. In this project you will take some time to learn about individual scientists and their discoveries. You will write a biography about the life of the scientist both in and out of the lab. You will write about the person: their family, their career, their successes, their failures. You will also write about the scientist’s contributions to the body of knowledge called science.

Your research project has implications beyond your grade for this course. When all projects have been completed and graded I will select ten which are the best of the best. They will be edited and re-submitted for inclusion in a permanently bound book to be kept in the library. It will serve as a resource to students in the future. It will also be a monument to your achievements.

The Paper

Your biography must have several sections (listed below). Each section should be as long as two or three pages. The questions listed below each section heading are merely for guidance. They do not represent the totality of the types of questions you might answer within each section.

1. Personal Biography: the story of the scientist’s life
   • Where was the person born? Tell about their family, marriage, children, and where they worked. Describe their education.
   • What was the person’s childhood like? How did they become interested in science?
   • Was the person successful? Did they struggle to make ends meet?
2. Scientific Biography: the story of the scientist’s work
   • What kind of scientific work did the person do? Did he or she work alone, with a partner or with a group of researchers?
   • What did the person discover? Explain in as much detail as you can.
   • Did the person invent anything or change the world during their lifetime? Did their life lead to social changes, such as a greater acceptance of women in science? Tell the story.
   • Was the person’s work controversial? Describe and explain the controversy and how it was resolved.
   • Did they receive recognition for their work? Why or why not?
3. Personal and Scientific Legacy: what does their work mean for us today?
   • How did their work affect scientists who came after them?
   • Did their work lead to new technology that changes how people work? Did their work lead to a deeper understanding of the world?
   • Does their work have any implications for everyday life? What? Explain.

Your paper must be typed. You will submit your paper electronically to Mr. Keller’s e-mail address. Look up the address in your school planner. It is also on the homepage of this web site. You must send your choice of scientist in a word document attachment to Mr. Keller at his e-mail address within two days of receiving this assignment. The registration is worth 5 points on the paper’s grade. You must register your choice with your teacher before starting the project. No two students in one class may choose the same scientist. Failure to register will result in a zero because your project will not be accepted. The scientists you may choose from are on the back of this handout.

The Bibliography

You must have at least five sources. Only two of these can be Internet sources. Your bibliography must be in standard form. Use the library’s link to NoodleTools to help you with formatting. Points will be deducted for improperly formatted bibliographies.

You may need to do research beyond the confines of the Scarborough High School library and computer lab. Be ready to take some time to visit the town library. Be willing to take the time to talk to a librarian for help.

Scientists you may Study

The following list of scientists contains mostly those who studied physics or chemistry. A few were involved in the study of medicine, biology, or ecology. Each student in each class will choose a different scientist so that the resulting book has a wide variety of scientists in it. The best situation would be that all scientists listed have biographies written.

A Few Tips

• Follow this general procedure:
  1. Find and collect your sources and prepare your bibliography.
  2. Carefully read your sources and take notes on things you would like to include in your paper.
  3. Write your paper from the standpoint of a knowledgeable person. If you come to a point in the story where you don’t know what happens next, go back to your sources…or find a new source!
  4. Read your paper carefully and take out anything which does not contribute useful information about your person.
• Do not be tempted to pad your paper with empty sentences: make sure everything you write communicates an important detail or explains an idea. A professional paper is not trying to impress anyone—it just tells an interesting story.
• Make your paper interesting to read. Tell the story of the person’s life as a story.