Using Notebooks in Science

1. Using Notebooks in Science

2. Issac Newton’s Notebook Different numbering system Detailed diagrams

3. Newton’s Eye Experiment Drawings/Diagrams Conclusion from experimentation Strike through errors—no erasing Newton, Chymistry

4. Kepler, 1600s, Parallax of Mars Calculations We sometimes underestimate "minor" advances: one of Kepler's problems was that decimal numerical notation had not been invented, so he had to carry fractions throughout! Two pages of the hundreds he covered with calculations

5. Lewis and Clark Journals From 1806 to 1814 Jefferson strove to have the expedition's history published. Fully appreciating the value of the documents, the former president began a campaign to bring the material together under safe management. "The right to these papers is in the government," Jefferson declared, and he wished to reclaim them for the nation. Dated entries

6. Lewis and Clark Journals “Praries, those men inform that the Kansas Nation are now out in the plains hunting Buffalow, they hunted last winter on this river    Passed a projecting rock on which was painted a figue  and a Creek at 2 ms. above Called Little Manitou Creek from the Painted rock    this Creek 20 yds. wide on the L. Sd.    passed a Small Creek on L. S. opposit a Verry bad Sand bar of Several ms. in extent, which we named Sand C”   Manitou on a Rock, June 5, 1804, Codex A, p. 34

7. In the spring of 1869 a young amateur naturalist named John Muir visited what was to become Yosemite National Park. He kept a daily journal that summer, excerpts of which eventually made it into The Atlantic Monthly in 1911, shortly before the entire journal was published under the title My First Summer in the Sierra. John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt

8. In between musings about the diverse environment around him, Muir contemplating the tiny ecosystem that exists on the clothing of his companion, the shepherd: His trousers, in particular, have become so adhesive with the mixed fat and resin that pine needles, thin flakes and fibers of bark, hair, mica scales and minute grains of quartz, hornblende, etc., …

9. …feathers, seed wings, moth and butterfly wings, legs and antennae of innumerable insects, or even whole insects such as the small beetles, moths and mosquitoes, with flower petals, pollen dust and indeed bits of all plants, animals, and minerals of the region adhere to them and are safely imbedded, so that though far from being a naturalist he collects fragmentary specimens of everything and becomes richer than he knows.

10. Alexander Graham Bell’s Notebook Page #s Page #s Date Quote Detailed Diagram

11. Title Pages Thomas Edison Alexander Graham Bell

12. “Ah-ha” Moments: “I then shouted into M the following sentence: “I want to see you.” To my delight he came and declared that he had heard and understood what I said.”

13. In early January 1888, Edison drew up a five-page list of projects—"Things doing and to be done"—for the new laboratory, ranging from improvements in the phonograph, telephone, and electric lighting to a "Cotton Picker," "Ink for Blind," and "Artificial Ivory."

14. Albert Einstein’s notebook with crossed out results. Real scientists never erase their work. They may need to go back to their calculations or results in order to modify their procedures, etc.

15. Inventors use notebooks to record ideas. They brainstorm and draw things they imagine building. All good inventors and scientists have been reflective in their writings. Good note taking helps organize ideas and information. Scientists often refer to earlier results, research, and notes for new directions in experimentation. Edison’s issued patent of tinfoil phonograph (1878) Early sketches of tinfoil phonograph Edison with his tinfoil phonograph

16. SCIENTIST’S NOTEBOOKS • The following slides show real notebooks from scientists who work at Battelle – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. • Watch carefully as important parts to a scientist’s notebook are shared.

17. Computational Chemist “Something wrong with this”

18. Computational Chemist “will have all of these checked for instability and optimize”

19. Reference graphs and tables pasted into notebook Materials Scientist

20. Sample sketch Materials Scientist

21. Materials Scientist Results (crossed out)

22. ECOLOGIST Describing the problem – the purpose of the study

23. ECOLOGIST Identifying the site including selection criteria

24. ECOLOGIST Specifications regarding the Elk Enclosures

25. Excellent Notebooks Have: • A date and time • Have enough detail to show how each device or variation or idea might be used. • Sketches are essential--they don't have to be beautiful. • Data-often organized graphically • Calculations shown • Conclusions • Page numbers