Groups and Locations

Science Controversies, On-Line Partnerships in Education" (SCOPE), supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), investigates use of computer and Internet resources to aid research and learning around unresolved scientific questions. The principal investigators are Marcia Linn, (PI, University of California-Berkeley), Phil Bell (co-PI, University of Washington), and Pamela Hines (co-PI, Science, AAAS). Scope funding began in October 1998. We believe that the exploration of a scientific controversy can help students to develop an understanding of "science in the making" and the existing intersection between science, technology, and society. The dynamic and recorded nature of the SCOPE Web site allows students to see how researchers' ideas, questions, and conclusions evolve over time. When necessary, additional material developed by SCOPE team members bridges the knowledge gap between research scientists and middle-school students. The SCOPE Web site helps students to understand the following:

• The dynamics of a scientific controversy
• The nature of the scientific process
• The role of scientific knowledge in shaping policy decisions