A01 - Chance Discoveries

Activity -- A01 - "Chance Discoveries"
Response/Worksheet page
Read the article "Discovery, Chance and the Scientific Method" by Fran Slowiczek, Ed.D and Pamela M. Peters, Ph.D
at "http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/chance.html".
Provide the appropriate responses.
last update July 11, 2005
Consider the following questions. If possible, answer the following BEFORE reading the article or completing the activity.

1. What is your definition of chance?

2. How do you think chance contributes to important discoveries?

3. In how many States can matter be found?
Answer the following WHILE you read or immediately after reading the article or completing the activity.

4.What medical studies did Galvani's chance observation help establish?

5. How does chance differ for the prepared and unprepared minds?

6. How did chance observations of previous scientists help lead to Fleming's discovery and the eventual production of penicillin? Be specific.

7. How did chance favor the work of Chain, Flory, and Abraham in 1939? Be specific.

8. What event led to the mass production of penicillin? Be specific.

9. Describe how you would imagine the laboratories of Galovani, pasteur, fleming, and Chain.


Answer the following AFTER you read or immediately after reading the article or completing the activity.

10. How did the work of Roberts, Pasteur and Lister contribute to the production or discovery of penicillin.

11. What do you think Louis Pasteur meant when he wrote "chance favors only the prepared mind?"

12. Based on what you read, who do you think should receive credit for the discovery of penicillin? Give your reasons.

13. Now what is your definition of chance?

© Copyright 2002 Jack H. Norris, All Rights Reserved.

1. What is your definition of chance?
2. How do you think chance contributes to important discoveries?
3. In how many States can matter be found?

4.What medical studies did Galvani's chance observation help establish?
5. How does chance differ for the prepared and unprepared minds?
6. How did chance observations of previous scientists help lead to Fleming's discovery and the eventual production of penicillin? Be specific.
7. How did chance favor the work of Chain, Flory, and Abraham in 1939? Be specific.
8. What event led to the mass production of penicillin? Be specific.
9. Describe how you would imagine the laboratories of Galovani, pasteur, fleming, and Chain.

10. How did the work of Roberts, Pasteur and Lister contribute to the production or discovery of penicillin.
11. What do you think Louis Pasteur meant when he wrote "chance favors only the prepared mind?"
12. Based on what you read, who do you think should receive credit for the discovery of penicillin? Give your reasons.
13. Now what is your definition of chance?