Bishop Robert Grosseteste (1168-1253), a great role model for scientists as well as Christians, established the foundation for the Scientific Method. Throughout his lifetime, he maintained an evangelistic fervor and adherence to biblical teachings, as well as a passion for science and systematic experimentation. Today, the Scientific Method has evolved into a necessary practice followed by scientists, laying out their personal journeys of discovery.
My own journey began with writing numerous reports while pursuing my science degrees, followed by co-authoring two articles as a professional. Later, while homeschooling my children and teaching others, it was natural to include the scientific method in their education. That opened the door to many interesting discoveries, great stories, and surprises.
Last Fall of 2022, while reminiscing with my husband over the times we helped our kids and the community with Science Fairs, I recalled that some participants received low scores on their projects because they didn’t follow the Scientific Method. They were very discouraged especially when they had worked hard on their project.
Right then, I had the idea to give a talk to homeschool parents and their children, where I would offer guidance about using the Scientific Method since I had plenty of experience applying it. To my surprise, only hours later, Audrey Johnson reached out to me proposing that we work together on a presentation on the Scientific Method! She had noticed my posts about my daughter’s Science Fair projects which I had already been sharing on Facebook.
Although Audrey and I had frequented the same science competition floors of the Philadelphia area, we hadn’t met personally yet. While preparing for our first webinar, I showed Audrey the photo of my husband as a judge, and she exclaimed “that is my daughter Sarah!” Since then Sarah has earned two degrees in Science and has just begun her job as an Electrical Engineer.
By the way, Audrey is also a Homeschool Veteran, an educator and a coach. To find out more about Audrey’s services for homeschoolers, visit Home - Experience Homeschooling.
My husband David judging Sarah on Science Fair years 12 years ago…
Since our first encounter, Audrey and have presented three webinars on the Scientific Method, and helped with the Greater Philadelphia Homeschool Science Fair last February. We are also getting ready for two webinars on October 2 and 3. Feel free to join us and tell your friends. If you are busy on those dates, don’t hesitate to ask us for a recording.
During the webinar, we hope to encourage everyone to enter at least one Science Fair because the benefits are numerous and are not just limited to the expansion of their scientific knowledge. We will be using examples from our children’s projects that we personally witnessed and nurtured, as well as sharing tips for a successful Science Fair project.
For example, the best projects are those that are applicable and related to your everyday life. The year my daughter was volunteering at The Pennsylvania Colonial Plantation, she decided to investigate which type of wax produced the longest burning candles. Since she was only eight, I helped her to melt four different types of wax and poured them into molds. Later, we figured out a way to quantify the results by weighing them as they burnt. Although there were several hurdles, she persevered beautifully because it was a topic that was close to her heart and interests. This marked her first project “Melt Down!”, followed by “Pickle Power”, “Refracting Nutrition”, “The Best Way to Dye” summarized in this 1 minute video. Not included is her last project “Fluid Dynamics of Diamagetism” featured in the title of this blog.
FINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Robert Grosseteste and Sir Francis Bacon deserve our applause for paving our journeys in science with a workable system that reports knowledge accurately and clearly. Even more important was Grosseteste’s legacy while he served as a Bishop and Scientist, leading a lifestyle according to:
Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report..
FINAL SURPRISE
While researching Grosseteste, I learned that he was most passionate about studying the nature of light, the first thing that God created and the source of all our life on Earth. The topics of Light & Optics motivated me to persevere through my university studies in Physics, paving the way to obtaining an M.S. in Optical Engineering.
Soon after committing my life to Christ, my priority shifted to sharing the good news of Jesus, the Light of the world. I became involved in various Children’s ministries and wrote the book Lightlab, a few articles and am producing scientific tutorials related to light, all with a Christian worldview.
HOW ABOUT YOU? What is your passion in science and do you have your own journey to share? Please share with us.