What is science?

Scientific knowledge is stronger when it has multiple lines of evidence.

If data and conclusions are consistent for different experiments, this strengthens the knowledge.

Testing of scientific ideas means trying to disprove those ideas, not to prove them.

If the knowledge survives repeated testing, then the knowledge is strengthened.

Scientific knowledge can be biased.

All people have biases, but the rules of science are geared to minimize bias. Bias means to be unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.

Good science is different from poor science, pseudoscience and non-science.

Not recognizing those difference can lead to uncritical thinking and poor choices. Pseudoscience (pronounced: sue-doh-science) is a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method. For example, astronomy (study of natural space objects) is a science, but astrology (ex. your birth sign) is generally viewed as a pseudoscience.

Science deals only with natural patterns and explanations, never supernatural.

Only natural phenomena can be studied, and only natural explanations can be used. (Supernatural: of, relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings)

Ignorance (lack of knowledge or information) is a key driving force of science

Scientists are driven to understand the ever-increasing secrets of nature. There are still many discoveries left to try and understand!

Scientific knowledge is always open to change with compelling new evidence.

Some scientific knowledge is relatively new and untested, but other scientific knowledge is well established due to long term testing and successful application, and therefore unlikely to be overturned; it's durable.

There is no ONE scientific method

There are several versions of the scientific method. Some versions have more steps, while others may have only a few. However, they all begin with the identification of a problem or a question to be answered based on observations of the world around us and provide an organized method for conducting and analyzing an experiment.

Collaboration leads to more reliable scientific knowledge.

This includes the open sharing of data and interpretations in scientific journals (a science magazine) and conferences.

Scientific knowledge is different from other kinds of knowledge.

This is because it does not come from authority or by votes. It is obtained through critical observation critical testing of proposed explanations. Published reports are critically peer-reviewed to check validity and quality of work. Being critical in this context means that you look at fellow scientists by exercising careful judgment, not just believing what you read.

Some scientific explanations are better than others.

This is simply because they work better and explain more observations.

Scientific tests should be "Fair Tests."

This means that results could go either way, depending on the validity of the explanation.