What is Science about?

Science is the study of how the universe works

Science is a systematic process used to discover how the universe works and what it is made of. Science relies on testing ideas with evidence gained from the natural and physical world. Scientific explanations are accepted as reliable only when they have been subjected to rigorous testing.

Scientific knowledge is dynamic and evolves over time

Scientific knowledge builds on previous ideas and innovations and is continually being updated and expanded as new evidence comes to hand. This means that our understanding of the universe has changed over time and will continue to change.

Science is a collaborative activity

Scientists interact with each other and with the wider world and as they try to validate new explanations. Science explanations are inextricably linked to culture, politics, and economics because scientists are part of communities and cultures that view the world in different ways.

Science is both logical and creative

Scientific investigation makes use of multiple approaches, creative as well as logical. Creative scientists “think outside the box”, shift perspective as they view problems, and examine different views of the same problem. Through inspiration, careful observation, and critical thinking, scientists discover, invent, adapt, combine, and apply ideas. Knowledge gained from scientific research finds its way into countless practical applications/technologies that benefit humankind.

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