Courses: SYSC 399U: Models in Science

Models in Science, SYSC 399U

University Studies Cluster Course for Science in the Liberal Arts

This interdisciplinary course focuses on the role of models in scientific inquiry. Students explore how scientists from a variety of disciplines use different types of models, including physical (scale), mathematical (analytic and numeric), agent-based, and animal. To facilitate this exploration, the course is divided into three main sections.

1. Definition: We compare different definitions of “science,” “the scientific method,” and “model.” Here we also look briefly at what philosophers of science have said about how models fit into scientific inquiry.
2. Deconstruction: Students critically analyze a variety of models used in the research literature from different disciplines. Key questions include: What are the strengths and weaknesses of models as tools for posing and answering scientific questions? Which types of modeling techniques are best for investigating different types of scientific questions? What common issues apply to the use of all scientific models? How should one evaluate models in terms of the tension between fidelity to the “real world” and their necessary (and desirable) simplifications? What validation procedures are necessary to increase confidence in model generated results?
3. Construction: Students identify a scientific question of interest and propose a hypothesis that a model could help to test. They then design, construct, and use their model to address their question. This construction phase defines the main course project which is staged over the term.

The course provides both a conceptual understanding of how models are used in science and “hands on” experience conducting scientific inquiry using models as tools.