Science is the set of tools and knowledge systems societies use to explain the what, the why and the how of the world we live and the many systems, processes and phenomena that humans encounter.
It helps us understand the world, and it helps us find ways to improve human existence through research and invention.
The core of science is the asking of questions, and the gathering and interpretation of evidence to arrive at insights. Science is built on methods of testing ideas against reality, with established processes for determining whether a concept holds true or requires further investigation or revision. Sometimes, the process of gathering evidence shows an idea needs to be discarded – the theory that the Earth was flat, for example, which was disproven when navigators explored the oceans
Almost everything we rely on as advanced societies relies on science. Applied science makes our water safe to drink, underpins our communication systems, the financial system and the food systems that feed humanity.
Beyond tangible inventions, science is a process of curiosity, careful testing and evaluation of evidence to arrive at knowledge. It is rarely ‘settled’ and this is one of its strengths, as progress and new evidence leads to growth and evolution of scientific knowledge and how it is applied.
Because all science relies on evidence, it is one of the most reliable ways to understand reality.
The work of science is also a shared, collective human endeavour. Each new discovery builds on centuries of careful work that has gone before it, and when any of us apply a similar approach of curiosity and testing, we can see the benefits, whether we are trying a new recipe or experimenting to find a new fitness practice. Science is a tool for thinking critically and carefully in all areas of life.
The English word “science” comes from the Latin scientia, meaning “knowledge” and it is more than a collection of facts and principles, it is a way of investigating and discovering more about an aspect of our world.
All scientific knowledge must be based on evidence that can be observed, tested, and verified.
Think of science as a conversation with nature. Scientists ask questions, design experiments or make observations, and then analyse the evidence to discover answers to their questions.
Credible science must be systematic, repeatable, and open to revision. That means, if new evidence challenges an old idea, the old idea must evolve or change. This is why science is so dynamic.
For example, centuries ago many believed diseases were caused by “imbalanced humours”. With further investigations and the acquisition of new evidence, scientists developed germ theory, and this reshaped medicine and practices around public health and sanitation. This is the strength of science, it evolves as new insights are tested and found reliable.
Science is also not limited to professionals in labs. Almost all of us use scientific thinking, for example when we compare nutrition labels, decide based on weather reports whether we should hang laundry outside, or apply good food hygiene principals in the kitchen. These are all everyday examples of scientific reasoning.
In short, science is the best available explanation for any phenomenon at a given time, and scientific knowledge is open to refinement as new evidence emerges.
Curiosity powers science and fuels the exploration and observation that underpins the process of discovery. Problems, patterns or changes are noticed, for example, a farmer notices certain plants seem to grow better together. The patterns of the stars through the seasons were studied by early navigators to chart their courses across oceans.
Discovery can be deliberate or accidental. The story of penicillin shows how chance observations, when followed by careful testing, can change medicine forever. Other discoveries, like the periodic table, are the outcome of systematic searching and pattern-finding.
Discovery is very rarely the achievement of a single person, instead, scientific discoveries are the result of a community of researchers and innovators collaborating and building on each other’s insights. Each new finding opens the door to further questions, because science is a journey and every discovery is the start of a new exploration.
You don’t have to work in a laboratory to be engaged in research and discovery, in fact, it’s something most of us do whenever we try something new. The scientific mindset thrives when curiosity is encouraged, findings are shared, and discoveries are communicated.
