Science

Science is a human endeavor.  Scientists use observations and measurements of our world to determine what is true.  Scientific truth evolves as newer, more accurate measurements and data provide a deeper understanding of our world.  From the data, scientists build mathematical, conceptual, and computational models to look at how systems function from the atomic to global level.  A fundamental part of science is exploring the nature of change in systems, whether physical, chemical, or biological.   As individuals and as a society, we make choices about which systems we study and about how we use the knowledge we gain.  Our choices, such as the use of nuclear technology or our response to climate change, can destabilize or cause change in our bodies, our local environment, or our global ecosystem.  Science attempts to use data to predict how these systems will respond to the choices we, as individuals or societies, make.

• • Science is a method of inquiry that adds to our body of knowledge about the world.

  • The methodology of science attempts to give us objective answers to challenging questions.  What we do with our scientific knowledge can and does impact humanity and the planet.

  • Our understand of the world has grown over time.  Scientific truth evolves in response to new measurements and observations.

  • The world is complicated.  We use models and experiments to simplify, clarify, and analyze complex systems.

  • We build our understanding of the universe with explanations of how matter and energy are transferred and transformed. In turn, the concepts of matter and energy focus and shape the way we explore phenomena in the universe.

  • The world is constantly changing.  Scientists study the causes, rates, and implications of those changes to:

  • Build a more robust understanding of the world

  • Inform our design and decision making

  • Make predictions about the world

  • The way in which an object or living thing is shaped and its substructure determine many of its properties and functions.

  • The macroscopic behaviors of systems depend on their microscopic properties (The way the world works depends on things we can’t see).