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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This is a 4 page paper that provides an overview of serendipity in science. The institution of accidental discovery is explored and analyzed. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KW60_KFhapacc.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and nuanced view of how science and innovation actually function, one must be careful not to overlook the role of "happy accidents" in discovery. To be sure, some of the
most important discoveries in the history of the world have been attributable to accident, from the discovery of the American continent by Columbus in 1492 to Hoffmans discovery of the
hallucinogenic properties of lysergic acid diethylamide in the 20th century. This paper will explore the role of serendipity in science and assess whether or not the incidence of serendipity can
be influenced by adopting a state of mental readiness. This paragraph assists the student in exploring how serendipity can impact ones private life. The importance of "accidents" in scientific
discoveries cannot be overstated. Often referred to as "serendipity", many great scientific innovations have depended upon unpredictable accident circumstances, or discoveries emerging from research originally directed at a different topic.
For instance, one of the most famous examples from history is Alexander Flemings "discovery" of penicillin; Fleming had been working for months on trying to isolate different agents that had
an effective capacity for stopping the spread of infectious bacteria when he failed to sufficient sterilize his workspace and penicillin fungi mold began to grow in one of his petri
dishes (Lightman, 2006). Fleming realized, of course, that the mold was successful in killing the bacteria, and thus penicillin treatments were born. This suggests the ability to "learn by accident"
in all dimensions and aspects of life. For instance, if one gets a poor grade on an assignment due to some mistake, one can analyze that mistake and correct for
it the next time around. This is but one example. To be sure, however, it is not usually sufficient to count on serendipity when conducting science. As Louis Pasteur wrote,
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