POCKET CLASS: The science (and magic) of getting it wrong
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“Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!”
That was Ms. Frizzle’s mantra on the children’s show, The Magic School Bus, teaching kids that science is full of trial and error.
Dr. Mickie Noble couldn’t agree more.
“Science is all about being wrong,” says Noble, program head of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Environmental Sciences.
“That’s where the real learning — and the magic — happens.”
And while Noble doesn’t drive a magic school bus, she does own a technicolour lab coat with more than a few tricks up her sleeves (ask her about the best way to maximize an explosion with Coke and Mentos or about her exploding gummy bear experiment).
“Many students don’t understand that science isn’t the linear process textbooks would have you believe,” she says. “The key is to embrace failure, shift focus, and try again. Because each mistake sparks new questions — and new questions lead to new possibilities.”
Ready to see what’s possible for you? Whether you’re continuing your undergraduate degree, just starting out or ready to take on a graduate program, check out our range of programs on offer in our School of Environment and Sustainability.