Unit 2 There is So Much to Study in Science.

Lead in

1. Look at the diagram of the natural sciences and their terms. Work in teams and add 4 more terms of your own that go with the particular science.

2. Look at the definition of biochemistry below. Work with a partner. Give a definition of your field of study using the verbs from the Functional language box?

Biochemistry examines the structure and function of living organisms at the molecular level.

Functional language: Giving definitions … is a science / study of … … studies/examines/investigates/describes/deals with/determines/etc.

Reading

1. Look through the definitions of some natural sciences dealing with environmental issues. Match the definitions with the right titles of sciences below. Mark the key words in each definition that helped you to make the right guesses.

Study help Choosing techniques appropriate for your reading goals can save you time. Here are some reading techniques you may find helpful for reading efficiently—quickly and with good understanding.

• Guessing the new words
• Using a dictionary for new words
• Highlighting repeated or paraphrased key words.

A …is concerned with the health of our environment and the significance of pollution. It focuses around our ability to improve our understanding of the effects of pollution on plants and animals and to develop early warning markers of organisms, population or environmental health.

B …uses a high level of mathematical technique for the description and analysis of complex environmental systems. It needs complicated statistical methods in the design of experiments and interpretation of measurements in the monitoring of the environment…

C …uses scientific background to the processes which affect the environment and its management as well as considering the social, legal and policy implications of environmental issues.

D …is the scientific study of chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places. It deals with the behaviour of both natural and man-made substances in relation to atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial environment.

E …is the science of the relationship between organisms and their environments. It is the study of harmful effects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward prevention or reversal through conservation.

(Adapted from Lancaster University Undergraduate Prospectus Entry 2005)

1. Pollution Science A

2. Ecology

3. Environmental Management

4. Environmental Chemistry

5. Environmental Mathematics

Writing

Write the definition of your field of study. Pay attention to the key words.

Listening

1. Work with a partner. Choose the correct explanation of the words and phrases below. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1. If something is hands-on it is

a) theoretical b) practical c) both

2. If something is promising it

a) is bad and useless b) is unknown c) shows potential

3. If something captivated you it was

a) dead boring b) fascinating and attractive c) absolutely new to you

4 If something is familiar to you it is

a) well-known b) strange c) understood

5. If it is a procedure of something it is a/an

a) process or method b) rule c) explanation

6. If you hesitate you feel

a) brave b) unhappy c) uncertain

7. If you have a doubt about something you

a) feel scared b) hesitate c) feel angry

8. If you decide to broaden your knowledge of a subject you

a) forget about it b) think about it a lot c) learn more about it

9. If you are inquisitive you

a) are talented b) are imaginative c) want to know more about people or things

2. Listen to John, Paul and July telling how they got interested in science. Tick (V) the correct piece of information about them.

Who…?	John	Paul	July
got interested by educational TV programs
loved reading science fiction books
was encouraged by their parents
is fond of experimenting
is going to become a research scientist
has a particular career in mind
hasn’t decided yet what to do in the future

3. Listen again and answer the questions.

a) Are they all happy with their choice of specialization?

b) Why can interest in science mean a future full of choices?

c) What are the possible disadvantages of being a research scientist?

Discuss

Ø Are you happy with your choice of specialization? Why?/Why not?

Ø How did you get interested in science?

Ø What are your plans for the future?

Ø Would you like to become a research scientist? Why?/Why not?

Ø What else except for an inquisitive mind one should have to be a research scientist?

Ø Do you have any particular career in mind?

Ø Do you agree that successful scientists are born rather than made? Why?/Why not?

Writing

Write a paragraph about your choice of specialization using the questions in Discuss and the information in the Study help box as the guidelines to help you to organize your ideas and develop a good piece of writing.

Study help A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develop an idea. In a paragraph there is usually one idea that is more important than all the others and it is commonly found at the beginning. The main idea is supported by major details that grow out of it. And there are also so called minor details that grow out of the major ones, i.e. examples, explanations, additional information, etc. When you write, try to join your ideas with the linking words and phrases, e.g. first of all, moreover, besides, finally, actually, in any case. When you have finished, re-read and check your work  

Reading

1. You are going to read the text about the Combined Science (Natural Sciences) course. Before you read the text, look up the word ‘combine’ in the dictionary.

2. Work with a partner. What subjects do you think are included in the curriculum of the course according to its title?

3. Read the description of the Combined Science degree course offered by Lancaster University in Britain and check the predictions you have made.

Guess the meaning of the highlighted words. Check as a class/

(Adapted from Lancaster University Undergraduate Prospectus Entry 2005)

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