The Scientific Method Isn't Just for Scientists

A few years ago, my opinion regarding anthropogenic greenhouse warming changed from one of skepticism to one of acceptance. That change was not induced by some new scientific discovery, but rather by a realization that my thinking process was flawed, especially in light of the fact that I was a scientist. The scientific method requires a willingness to admit that one's hypothesis might be incorrect. In fact, an attempt should be made to prove one's hypothesis wrong in an effort to make sure that objectivity and bias are eliminated to the extent possible. This helps to distinguish between evidence based ideas and belief systems. I will discuss in more detail my journey from ideology to science, and suggest ways the scientific method can be incorporated into the educational process.