Science

Science is the organized pursuit of knowledge. Just like the knowledge it creates, science is an evolving practice. It has taken centuries to invent the scientific process, to identify the difference between random thinking and tinkering and solid scientific inquiry. Recognizing that some processes are flawed, how they are flawed, and how to prevent these flaws has been a struggle in itself. In addition to discovering electricity, the motion of the planets, and the biological processes of life – we also had to discover the methods and tools for discovering these.

There is a certainly lot of life without science. All forms of professions can be carried out without science … farming, insurance, mortgage lending, construction, etc. But, we have discovered that with science all of these can be performed better. Science can aid us in planting at the right time, avoiding diseases, destroying pests, and creating hybrids of seeds and animals that are more hearty and productive.

Bill Nye the Science Guy is a typical image of a scientists – a little geeky, excited about strange things, and wearing a white lab coat. This image separates him from the rest of society, and in many ways separates science from the rest of society. But, in fact science completely permeates our lives from the cereal we have for breakfast to the satellite television we watch before bed. It should be impossible for children to say “how will I ever use math and science in the real world”. As consumers it is possible to avoid using math and science. But as a creator of the world as it is now and as it will be in the future, it is very difficult not to stir the pot of science.

Sit in an office and try not to use the computer or the Internet. If you don’t invest these (science), then you are a consumer. There was a time when everyone was a farmer and everyone participated in the creation of goods. Few were pure consumers. Everyone understood the husbandry of the land and of animals. Those people were the seeds from which science emerged… they were producers. Every profession is responsible for the creation of some good or service, though not all require the application of science. All of them somewhere in their roots contain science. Without science, all of the things we do and use every day would be much less efficient. Without actuarial mathematics it would still be possible to sell insurance. But, it would be a much more risky business. Without construction engineering and materials science, it would still be possible to construct a house … but not a skyscraper.

Daniel Bell pointed out that the modern progress of industrial societies was largely due to two professions … the engineer and the financier. The former allowed us to create incredible new products. The latter made it possible to finance major projects that could take advantage of new discoveries.

It is probably not a coincidence that university graduate schools have a huge market for engineering and management courses and have had to create adult education formats (night, weekend, and Internet classes) to meet the demand. But, there has been no similar demand for other subjects.