The scientific method

We have conducted a survey asking who, in your opinion, was the greatest scientist in history. These are the exact figures obtained via the clickers’ responses:

Although the question is subjective to some degree, 40% of the class matches the thinking of the majority of the Scientific Community. Surprisingly, a higher percentage (41%) states that Galileo was the most important scientist. Although Einstein (voted by 15%) has been considered the greatest scientist of the twentieth century, the Scientific Community identifies Isaac Newton as the most relevant scientist of all times.

The scientific method can be defined as the sequence of steps pre-established by a discipline in order to achieve valid knowledge through reliable instruments. In other words, the scientific method consists of a series of steps that we take to improve our knowledge in a reliable manner. It is described in an "informal" way in this video:

Chemistry music video on the steps of the Scientific Method. All music and lyrics copyright 2005, Mark Rosengarten. All rights reserved.