About the student
Aisha AlJaidah is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University in Qatar, currently taking the engaging Science and Technology Studies: Introduction to Science & Technology Studies course with the inspiring Professor Anto Mohsin. She is engaged in campus life at Northwestern Qatar and calls Doha home.
Course Info
This course is all about understanding what science and technology actually are, how they work in everyday life, and why they matter to society. By the end, you'll know how to think more critically, question what’s around you, link science and technology to the world through reading, writing, and reflection.
Image part of an "Islamic wall hanging" by Husayn Fakhari (Persia, 1875-1900), which depicts planets as persons. The text is from a poem by Omar Khayyam (1048-1131). It’s a collection of Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Leiden, the Netherlands. Photo by Prof. Mohsin.
About the book !
The Joy of Science is about using scientific thinking to help us make sense of everyday life. The author shares 8 lessons that teach us to ask questions, look for proof, understand uncertainty and spot bias, so we can make better choices and see things more clearly.
Unclear/ Contradictory
Aisha states "Sometimes the book used big examples and technical words that made things harder to understand (Chp.2). Some points about uncertainty seemed to go round in circles instead of giving a straight answer, which was confusing."
Useful/ Unhelpful ?
Aisha found Chp. 5 really helpful. Al-Khalili says "Evidence must always trump opinion, now matter how strongly that opinion is held", because Aisha is interested in law where facts and proof matter. (Science+Law=harmony)
She also says that Chp. 2 felt more confusing and harder to turn (e.g. the vacuum method) into simple advice for everyday decisions
Aisha's Understanding
"The book showed me that science isn’t just facts, it’s about being curious, asking questions, looking for proof and being open to changing your mind. Now I try to question things even more than before, ask for proof and think carefully about what I hear, both from professors and in everyday life."
