Product Description:
Scientific facts can be so complicated that only specialists in a field fully appreciate the details. Professor Frederick Grinnell believes that the nature of everyday practice that gives rise to these facts should be understandable by everyone interested in science. Grinnell has an insider's knowledge of biomedical research based on more than thirty-five years of experience. Over much of the same period, he also has been teaching about philosophical and ethical issues in science. Now, he integrates these perspectives into an enlightening and entertaining description of Everyday Practice of Science. Grinnell describes how real life researchers bring their own interests and passions to their work. Through the discovery process, they try to learn new things about the world. Through the credibility process, they try to convince other scientists that what they have learned is correct. Diversity of interests and backgrounds amongst researchers enhances both discovery and credibility. Achieving success depends on intuition and commitment as well as on logic and objectivity. Grinnell scratches the surface of the anonymous and somewhat boring “scientific method” and shows readers the excitement, risk and adventure underneath. Everyday Practice of Science also introduces readers to issues about science and society. Practice requires value judgments: what should be done; who should do it; who should pay for it; how much? Balancing scientific opportunities with societal needs depends on appreciating both the promises and the ambiguities of science. Understanding practice informs discussions about how to manage research integrity, conflict of interest and the challenge of modern genetics to human research ethics. Society cannot have the benefits of research without the risks. Finally, in the last chapter, Professor Grinnell emphasizes the importance of faith in the practice of science and describes a holistic framework within which science and religion dynamically interact. conflict of interest and the challenge of modern genetics to human research ethics. Society cannot have the benefits of research without the risks. Finally, in the last chapter, Professor Grinnell emphasizes the importance of faith in the practice of science and describes a holistic framework within which science and religion dynamically interact.ambiguous and convoluted with lots of dead ends. Rather than dispassionate and objective, real life researchers work within the contexts of particular life interests and commitments. Said another way: the book describes the everyday practice of science in a fashion that embraces intuition and passion without abandoning logic and objectivity. Scratch the surface of the anonymous and somewhat boring linear model and one finds excitement, risk and adventure.
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