Observations, the Backbone of Science, Require Instruments, Measurements, Models, and Human Observers.

Over time we humans have been developing increasing influence over our environment through sensing mechanisms. Initially we used primarily our five senses but in time evolved to using the external environment itself to construct instruments to extend out senses ever more distantly from our immediate physical constraints of space, time, and awareness. The pinnacle of this growing sensing ability is demonstrated in science, where we create instruments to make measurements, which we interpret with models of the observing system. Thus observations consist of instruments that extend our five senses, measurements with these instruments (procedures), and models to extract meaningful interpretations. What is missing from this picture? I suggest that we have been remiss about a full accounting of the most important element of observing, and that is "the observer". Those who do study characteristics of the human observer generally are not those who actually do the observing; and those who do the observing traditionally have not paid much attention to those who study them. The result is observations that can be unreliable. Given the intellectual inertia that is inherent in the practice of science, unreliable observations can lead to disastrous delays in developing a reliable understanding of our relationship to our surroundings. This presentation is about some consequences of underappreciating our characteristics as observers and suggestions for correcting this oversight.