1. What Is Science?

= Science is both a body of knowledge and a process. In school, science may sometimes seem like a collection of
isolated and static facts listed in a textbook, but that’s only a small part of the story. Just as importantly, science is
also a process of discovery that allows us to link isolated facts into coherent and comprehensive understandings of
the natural world.

= Science is exciting. Science is a way of discovering what’s in the universe and how those things work today, how
they worked in the past, and how they are likely to work in the future. Scientists are motivated by the thrill of seeing
or figuring out something that no one has before.

= Science is useful. The knowledge generated by science is powerful and reliable. It can be used to develop
new technologies, treat diseases, and deal with many other sorts of problems.

=Science is ongoing. Science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge of the universe, and as it does, it
leads to new questions for future investigation. Science will never be “finished.”

=Science is a global human endeavor. People all over the world participate in the process of science. And you can
too!

Science is the study of the universe around us and within us, natural phenomena, and solutions to problems. Scientists want to observe
natural phenomena or events to understand the mechanisms that cause them and explain how or why those natural events occur.

In addition, science attempts to solve problems by using a methodology based on both empirical evidence and the analysis of that
evidence.

There are three main branches of science:

 Natural
 Social
 Format.

These are all science because they attempt to explain the universe around us and ourselves by using the scientific method to observe,
record, collect data, hypothesize, predict, experiment, and share results with peers within the scientific community, not specifically in that
order.

= Science is beauty, art and source of entertainment and a successful means of attaining physical comfort  Science helps us
to utilize our leisure purposefully. Cinema, TV, Radio, Newspaper are gifts of modern science for our entertainment  A
science student appreciate the nature in a better way Aesthetic Value.
= Science is of great value to society science makes a man useful citizen. Science gives impetus to the progress of society by
its new thoughts and inventions  Today society stands on the pillars of scientific techniques and knowledge. All our social
activities depend upon science  Science teaches us to Be healthy - By disposing the waste at proper place. - By spitting at the
right place. - By preventing the spread of epidemic diseases. Social Value

2. Nature of Science?
Nature of science (NOS) is a critical component of scientific literacy that enhances students’
understandings of science concepts and enables them to make informed decisions about
scientifically-based personal and societal issues. NOS is derived not only from the eight
science practices delineated in the Framework for K–12 Science Education (2012), but also
from decades of research supporting the various forms of systematic gathering of information
through direct and indirect observations of the natural world and the testing of this information
by the various research methods used in science, such as descriptive, correlational, and
experimental designs.

=Scientific Investigations Use a Variety of Methods;

=Scientific Knowledge Is Based on Empirical Evidence;
=Scientific Knowledge Is Open to Revision in Light of New Evidence;
 =Science Models, Laws, Mechanisms, and Theories Explain Natural
Phenomena;
=Science Is a Way of Knowing;
=Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order and Consistency in Natural Systems;
=Science Is a Human Endeavor; and
=Science Addresses Questions About the Natural and Material World.

3. Scope of Science?
It includes the various disciplines of science, such as physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology, and
many others. The scope of science also includes the methods, techniques, and tools used by scientists to
conduct research and investigate the natural world.

4. Characteristics of Science?
The nine main characteristics of science are as follows:

1. Objectivity:
Scientific knowledge is objective. Objectivity simple means the ability to see and accept facts as they are, not as one
might wish them to be. To be objective, one has to guard against his own biases, beliefs, wishes, values and
preferences. Objectivity demands that one must set aside all sorts of the subjective considerations and prejudices.
2. Verifiability:
Science rests upon sense data, i.e., data gathered through our senses—eye, ear, nose, tongue and touch. Scientific
knowledge is based on verifiable evidence (concrete factual observations) so that other observers can observe,
weigh or measure the same phenomena and check out observation for accuracy.
3. Ethical Neutrality:
Science is ethically neutral. It only seeks knowledge. How this knowledge is to be used, is determined by societal
values. Knowledge can be put to differing uses. Knowledge about atomic energy can be used to cure diseases or to
wage atomic warfare.
Ethical neutrality does not mean that the scientist has no values. It here only means that he must not allow his
values to distort the design and conduct of his research. Thus, scientific knowledge is value-neutral or value- free.
4. Systematic Exploration:
A scientific research adopts a certain sequential procedure, an organised plan or design of research for collecting and
analysis of facts about the problem under study. Generally, this plan includes a few scientific steps—formulation of
hypothesis, collection of facts, analysis of facts (classification, coding and tabulation) and scientific generalisation and
predication.
5. Reliability:
Scientific knowledge must occur under the prescribed circumstances not once but repeatedly. It is reproducible
under the circumstances stated anywhere and anytime. Conclusions based on casual recollections are not very
reliable.
6. Precision:
Scientific knowledge is precise. It is not vague like some literary writing. Tennyson wrote, “Every moment dies a man;
every moment one is born”, is good literature but not science. To be a good science, it should be written as: “In
India, according to the 2001 census, every 10th second, on the average, dies a man; every 4th second, on the
average, an infant is born.” Precision requires giving exact number or measurement. Instead of saying “most of the
people are against love marriages,” a scientific researcher says, “Ninety per cent people are against love marriages”.
7. Accuracy:
Scientific knowledge is accurate. A physician, like a common man, will not say that the patient has slight temperature
or having very high temperature but after measuring with the help of thermometer, he will pronounce that the
patient is having 101.2 F temperature.
Accuracy simply means truth or correctness of a statement or describing things in exact words as they are without
jumping to unwarranted conclusions.
8. Abstractness:
Science proceeds on a plane of abstraction. A general scientific principle is highly abstract. It is not interested in
giving a realistic picture.
9. Predictability:
Scientists do not merely describe the phenomena being studied, but also attempt to explain and predict as well. It is
typical of social sciences that they have a far lower predictability compared to natural sciences. The most obvious
reasons are the complexity of the subject matter and inadequacy at control etc.

5. Utility and Cultural Values of the subject?

Utilitarian value is defined as that value that a customer receives based on a task-related and
rational consumption behavior.

1. Utilitarian value  The knowledge gained through science is much more useful in guiding our life style
than gained through other sources.  Science has major impact in the field of medicines and health
thus preventing and curing number of disease  Science has entered in our life and daily activities.
 The computer boom and the resultant development of information technology have made the
world smaller and brought people nearer.
2. Utilitarian value  The knowledge gained through science is much more useful in guiding our life style
than gained through other sources.  Science has major impact in the field of medicines and health
thus preventing and curing number of disease  Science has entered in our life and daily activities.
 The computer boom and the resultant development of information technology have made the
world smaller and brought people nearer.
3. Cultural value  Science plays an important role in the civilization of man.  Science has played an
important role in understanding the culture and civilization of a country from time to time. 
Science has great impact on the culture of man in any society.  The development of our society or
culture is wholly dependent on scientific progress. Thus science is an integral part of our cultural
treasure.

6. Interdiciplinary Approach of Science?

3 Interdisciplinary science. An interdisciplinary approach involves drawing appropriately from several
disciplines (or separate branches of learning or fields of expertise) to redefine problems outside of normal
boundaries and reach solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations.

Interdisciplinary approaches and problem-based learning have permeated all disciplines, with a growing realization
that multiple literacies are necessary to fully understand a given subject. The current frameworks for both scientific
literacy and information literacy discussed in this chapter embrace the trends of interdisciplinary and
transdisciplinary research in the sciences and have the capacity and elasticity to reflect the complexity of this
collaborative research. Below are some examples of interdisciplinary coursework topics that undergraduate students
may commonly encounter.

7. Relationship of Science Life and Environment?

Our environmental resources aids in the sustainability of living organisms on the planet. It provides us with
food, shelter, clothing, and even scientific research. Scientific research provides us relevant information
that helps us in understanding life and its processes.
Environmental Science provides an overview of how science affects our environment. We focus on interactions
between the solid Earth, its water, its air and its living organisms, and on dynamic, interdependent relationships
between these four components.