The Nature and Practice of Science (Bio 125)

Supplemental readings

Study of “Complex systems” across the natural sciences. 
Special issue of Science.  Apr 2 1999.  Vol. 284 Num. 5411.

A critique of ecology
O’Connor, RJ.  2000.  Why ecology lags behind biology.  The Scientist 14[20]:35, Oct. 16, 2000.

A response to O’Connor 2000.
Swihart, RK, and PM Waser.  2002.  Gray matters in ecology: dynamics of pattern, process, and scientific progress.  Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 83(2): 149-155.

The development of synthetic theoretical models in molecular biology.
Kitano, H.  2002.  Systems biology: a brief overview.  Science 295: 1662-1664.

The structure of knowledge in biology
Lewis, R.W.  1994.  Organizing the rules of nature.
Turchin, P.  2001.  Does population ecology have general rules?  Oikos 94 (1): 17-26.
Schmitz, O.J.  2001.  From interesting details to dynamical relevance: toward more effective use of empirical insights in theory construction. Oikos 94(1): 39-50.

Research design and analyses
Frequentist approaches, information theory, and Bayesian statistics.  Link.
Selected reprints from David R. Anderson, Colorado State University.  Link.

Advice to graduate students
Links

Professional service
Kuyper, B.J.  1991.  Bringing up scientists in the art of critiquing research.  BioScience 41:248-250.
Waser, N.M., M.V. Price, & R.K. Grosberg.  1992.  Writing an effective manuscript review.  BioScience 42:621-623.
Rosenzweig, M.L., Davis, J.I., Brown, J.H.  1988.  How to write an influential review. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 69: 152-155.

Ethics in Science
Sigma Xi.  1986.  Honor in Science.  Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.  New Haven, CT.
Woodward, J., and D. Goodstein.  1996.  Conduct, misconduct and the structure of science.  American Scientist 84:479‑490.
Gifford, F.  1994.  Teaching scientific integrity.  The Centennial Review 38:297-314.
Committee on the Conduct of Science, National Academy of Sciences.  1995.  On Being A Scientist.  National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

Intellectual strategies
Kuhn, T.S.  1982.  Logic of discovery or psychology of research.  In P. Grime, ed.  Philosophy of Science and the Occult.  SUNY Press, Albany, New York.
Root-Bernstein, R.S.  1989.  How scientists really think.  Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 32:472-488.
Root-Bernstein, RS, M. Bernstein, & H. Garnier.  1995.  Correlations between avocations, scientific style, work habits, and professional impact of scientists.  Creativity Res. J. 8(2): 115-137.
Loehle, C.  1990.  A guide to increased creativity in research : inspiration or perspiration?  BioScience 40:123-129.
Loehle, C.  1996.  Thinking strategically.  Cambridge University Press.  195 pp.
Bernstein, DSResearch advice.
Brown, J. S.  2001.  Ngongas and ecology: on having a world view.  Oikos 94 (1): 6-16.
Deitrich, M.R.  1998.  Paradox and persuasion: negotiating the place of molecular evolution within evolutionary biology.  Journal of the History of Biology 31:85-111.

Bio 125 syllabus

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