What is Science?
Science is the organized study of natural world through observation,
Experimentation and analysis. It’s a way of understanding and explaining the
world around us based on evidence and logical reasoning.
The Importance of Science
Everything we know and all new discoveries are based on
science. Everything we rely on is related to science. Without
science, the human race would be far from where it is today, and
there would be many unanswered questions about the world
around us.
How Science Studies the Natural World
Question about things that can be test and answers found in
natural world about the natural world, came in the result of
science.
Natural Science: Natural science studies the physical world, like
plants, animals, the Earth, and the universe. It includes subjects like
biology, chemistry, and physics.
Social Science: Social science studies human behavior and societies,
exploring how people live, interact, and govern themselves. It includes
fields like sociology, psychology, and economics.
Why research is important in science?
Research is important in science because it helps us discover new
knowledge, understand natural and social phenomena, and solve
problems. Through research, scientists can test ideas, validate theories,
and develop new technologies that improve our lives and deepen our
understanding of the world.
Scientific research and some of the problems scientists face
when conducting research.
Scientific Research: Scientific research systematically
investigates natural or social phenomena, using experiments and
analysis to expand knowledge.
Challenges in Research:
1. Funding: Many studies lack sufficient financial support.
2. Time Limits: Research can be lengthy and may conflict
with deadlines.
3. Resource Limitations: Access to necessary equipment,
tools, or funding is not always available.
Introduction
Science has given us the knowledge to develop tools and
conveniences we take for granted:
# Use cell phones and Skype™ to call friends and family
around the world.
# Develop vaccines to prevent diseases like polio.
Science Also Helps Us…
Increase human average lifespan because of improved:
– Food and water safety
– Hygiene and sanitation
– Vaccines, antibiotics, and other medications
– Better nutrition
– Improved access to health care
Science is also…
- An organized inquiry to help solve a problem.
- A careful and systematic investigation to establish facts or
principles.
- An examination of patterns or rules to explain how
something works.
- A sharing of observations, discoveries, and what is
learned (the findings).
Science Provides…
- A important and relevant contribution to knowledge.
- An understanding of causes and effects of a given
situation or phenomenon.
- Development of laws, process and prediction about what
will happen.
Science Answers…
Science answers the questions of why and how.
For example, the law of gravity explains how people and
things stay on earth instead of floating away into outer
space.
“Empirical” Sciences
The natural and social sciences are “empirical” sciences.
This means they are:
§ Based on observation
§ Capable of being tested
Why Research is Important in Science?
- Research is an important part of science because it helps
us understand how things work, how things are made, and
why things happen the way they do. Research asks and
answers the questions that solve problems and produce
knowledge that can be used in new ways.
- Research leads to the science that helps us understand our
world and our place in it.
The importance of Research
Research is essential as it drives innovation, uncovers new
knowledge, and helps solve real-world problems. It
deepens our understanding, supports decision-making, and
improves society by providing evidence-based insights.
"Research is creating new knowledge." — Neil Armstrong
A genome is the complete set of DNA in an organism,
containing all the instructions for building and maintaining
that organism.
Example: The Human Genome Project (HGP)
The Human Genome Project (HGP) is a good example of
significant research. The goal of this significant research is
to provide researchers with powerful tools to understand
how inheritance impacts human disease. Each human cell
contains a molecule that carries the instructions that make
each of us unique individuals. Researchers call this
complete set of instructions a genome.
Each of Us Has:
> 1 Genome.
> 75 -100 Trillion cells.
> 46 chromosomes in each cell (chromosomes transmit our
hereditary information): • 23 chromosomes come from your
biological father • 23 chromosomes come from your
biological mother.
> 20,500 sets of instructions carried in our genome.
Variations in Our Cells Make Us Unique
§ Hair, eyes, and skin color
§ Risk of disease and response to drugs
HGP research has produced important new strategies for
disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
