Science and Technology Notes

Module 1.1: Understanding Science

  • Science is a system of objective knowledge from deep research, applied in every aspect of life. It leads to high living standards through scientific inventions and techniques.
  • Science has enabled humans to explore space, land on the Moon, and send spacecraft to Mars.
  • Science involves the pursuit and application of knowledge based on observations and a systematic methodology based on evidence to understand the natural and social world.
  • Science helps humans observe problems in their environment, leading to discoveries.
  • Science applications are evident throughout daily life, utilizing machines with simple logic.
  • Science effectively helps to understand the natural world through observation, experiment, and theorizing.
  • The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines science as 'systematic, organized knowledge.'
  • Science involves both evidence (from experiments) and theories to explain the evidence.

Branches of Science

  • Major branches include earth science, physical science, and life science, considered pure sciences.
  • Other branches, like engineering and technology, focus on the practical application of scientific activity.
  • Sciences dedicated to modern technology studies have evolved.

Physical Science

  • Examines the nonliving world and the laws governing physical interactions.
  • Subsets include chemistry, physics, and astronomy, examining interactions between earth and life.
Chemistry
  • The study of matter's properties, composition, and reactions.
  • Focuses on elements, their compositions, and chemical reactions.
Physics
  • Focuses on how matter is affected by energy and motion.
  • Example: Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion (e.g., Law of Inertia).
Astronomy
  • The study of objects outside Earth's atmosphere (moons, stars, planets).
  • Explores space objects using chemistry and physics.
  • Example: Determining chemical composition of stars or physics of planetary rotation.
  • Physical sciences deal with matter, interactions between objects, and interactions of objects outside Earth with our planet.

Earth Science

  • The study of Earth and its neighbors in space.
  • Applications include locating energy and mineral resources, studying human impact on the environment, and planning communities resilient to natural disasters.
Geology
  • Study of the Earth, dealing with the composition of earth materials, structures, and processes and how the planet has changed over time.
  • Involves the search for fuels and minerals, the study of natural hazards, and environmental protection.
Meteorology
  • The study of the atmosphere and its processes that determine weather and climate.
  • Critical for understanding climate change caused by human actions and protecting Earth's environment.
Oceanography
  • The study of Earth's oceans, including composition, movement, organisms, and processes.
  • Oceans are important resources for food, energy, and commodities.
  • Changes in oceans influence weather and drive climate change.
  • Oceanographers work to develop ocean resources and protect oceans from human impact.
Astronomy (as related to Earth Science)
  • Essential for understanding Earth; the moon drives tides, asteroids have impacted Earth, and solar energy drives weather.
  • Knowledge of Earth helps understand other planets.
  • Earth scientists address challenges like climate change caused by human activity.

Life Science

  • Involves the study of living/organic things, including plants, animals, and human biology.
  • Covers microscopic organisms to dinosaurs, including plants, animals, insects, bacteria, viruses, and cells.
  • Biology is often used synonymously with life science.
  • An estimated 8.77 million species of animals, 400,000 species of plants, and millions of insect species along with countless types of viruses and bacteria.
  • Life scientists specialize in areas like zoology or botany.
Zoology
  • Focuses on the animal kingdom, with subcategories for birds, fish, mammals, etc.
  • Involves studying behavior, characteristics, breeding, migration patterns, habitats, and interactions of animals.
  • Identifying new species is a part of zoology; it is estimated that there are around 8.7 million animal species on the planet, but scientists only know about 1.2 million species.
Botany
  • Studies plants, including grass, moss, flowers, bushes, and trees.
  • Subgroups include plant biochemistry, genetics, physiology, anatomy, and ecology.
  • Plants are indispensable to life on Earth.
Marine Biology
  • Studies plants and animals specific to the oceans.
  • Covers organisms' behaviors and their interactions in various marine environments, including coastal marshes and deep seas.
  • Studies food chains, ecosystems, and species in extreme environments.
  • Scientists specialize in specific areas like species, behavior, ecosystems, or organism groups.
Microbiology
  • Focuses on microscopic organisms (microbes) like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cell colonies.
  • Studies the structure, classification, and function of microbes and how to control them.
  • Microbes have a significant impact on life, causing decay, disease, fermentation, and creating antibiotics.
Entomology
  • Studies insects, arachnids, myriapods, worms, snails, and slugs.
  • Overlaps with zoology, as insects are part of the animal kingdom; of the 1.2 million species of known animals, around 900,000 of those are insects.
  • Insects are found nearly everywhere and are important in all ecosystems.
  • Subgroups include medical, forensic, parasitology, and anthropology.
  • Life sciences provide factual knowledge and new perspectives.
  • Touch areas from health care to the environment to controversies over regenerative medicine and genetic testing.
  • Life sciences help to comprehend the cycle of existence, degeneration and illness.
  • Serve as a base for new industries, a greener future, and benefits to society, especially in health.

Applied Science

  • Applies current scientific knowledge to address real-world issues.
  • Used in business, medicine, education, etc., to produce positive outcomes, solve technological difficulties, or drive innovation.
  • Examples: interventions for aggressive child behavior, preventing obesity, and studying drug effects.
  • Technology sector applications include improving cybersecurity and studying the impact of internet usage on children.
Examples of Applied Sciences

  • Acoustics: Study of mechanical waves in solids, liquids, and gases.

  • Accounting: Study of financial information about a business entity communicated to its shareholders.

  • Aerodynamics: Study of forces of air acting on objects in motion relative to air.

  • Aeronautical Engineering: Study of the design and manufacture of flight-capable machines and techniques.

  • Agriculture: Science of cultivating the ground, harvesting crops, rearing livestock, and associated production of food, fiber, and other goods.

  • Algebra: Mathematical study of structure, quantity, and relation, using symbols to represent numbers.

  • Anatomy: Study of the structure and organization of the human body.

  • Angiology: Study of blood and lymph vessels and related disorders.

  • Anthropology: Study of past and present human cultures with respect to physical and social characteristics, historic facts, and geographical distribution.

  • Apiculture: Science of raising bees for commercial sale of honey.

  • Applied Mathematics: Using mathematical techniques in fields other than mathematics.

  • Aquaculture: Farming of aquatic animals and plants.

  • Archeology: Scientific study of physical evidence of past human civilizations and societies.

  • Atomic Physics: Study of the internal structure of atomic nuclei as an isolated system of electrons.

  • Audiology: Study of hearing and related disorders.

  • Automobile Engineering: Design, manufacture, and operation of motorcycles, automobiles, buses, trucks, and their engineering systems.

  • Bacteriology: Study of bacteria in relation to disease and agriculture.

  • Behavioral Economics: Study of social and emotional effects on individuals due to economic designs and strategies.

  • Biochemistry: Study of chemical substances and processes in living organisms, focusing on structure, function, and the role of molecules.

  • Biomechanics: Study of the structure and functioning of biological systems.

  • Biophysics: Applying principles of physics to understand biological systems.

  • Cardiology: Study of heart disorders.

  • Cartography: Study and practice of making maps.

  • Ceramic Engineering: Creating objects from non-metallic materials.

  • Chemical Engineering: Design, construction, and operation of chemical plants and machinery.

  • Chemistry: Studying and analyzing the composition, properties, and reactions of substances.

  • Civil Engineering: Planning, designing, and constructing structures like buildings, roads, bridges, and houses.

  • Climatology: Study of prevailing weather conditions monitored over time.

  • Cognitive Science: Scientific study of mental thought and learning.

  • Computer Science: Systematic study of computation and computing systems.

  • Dactylography: Science of using fingerprints for identification.

  • Demography: Study of statistics related to births, deaths, income, population distribution, population density, etc.

  • Dentistry: Medicine branch focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to teeth and oral cavities.

  • Dendrology: Study of wooded plants.

  • Dermatology: Study of skin structure and skin related diseases.

  • Dynamics: Study of forces, their actions on bodies, and the changes in the motion they produce.

  • Ecclesiology: Theological study of the Christian Church.

  • Ecology: Studies the relationships shared by various living organisms on Earth.

  • Electronics: Technology branch that deals with the development and application of circuit systems.

  • Embryology: Science of the development of an embryo, from fertilization to the fetus stage.

  • Endocrinology: Study of functions and pathology of endocrine glands.

  • Engineering: Application of scientific, mechanical, and mathematical ideas to design processes, structures, and products that are meant to improve and ease out the quality of human life.

  • Financial Economy: Branch of economics concerned with the allocation and deployment of economic resources.

  • Floriculture: Science of cultivating flowers and ornamental plants for gardening and floristry purposes.

  • Fluid Mechanics: Study of fluids.

  • Forensic Science: Applying science and technology to establish facts/proofs as legal evidence for criminal investigation.

  • Forestry: Science of managing forests and its resources for human benefit, such as timber, acacia, and paper.

  • Hematology: Study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood-related diseases.

  • Hepatology: Study of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and biliary tree.

  • Histology: Study of the microscopic anatomy of the cells of living things.

  • Horticulture: Science of cultivating plants for commercial use.

  • Hydrology: Study of the movement and quality of water on Earth.

  • Hydroponics: Science of growing plants without soil using artificial mineral solutions.

  • Hydrostatics: Studying fluid bodies at rest.

  • Hydrotherapy: Using water as treatment in various medical conditions.

  • Ichthyology: Scientific study of fish.

  • Iconography: Study of the identification, description, and interpretation of images (symbols, icons, themes, etc.).

  • Immunology: Study of the immune system of living organisms.

  • Information Technology: Using computer science and electronic equipment to store, share, and manipulate data.

  • Macroeconomics: Studies the behavior of aggregate economy.

  • Mammalogy: Study of mammals.

  • Mammography: Study of human breasts using a mammogram (a special kind of X-ray).

  • Managerial Economics: Applying economic concepts to formulate managerial decisions.

  • Marine Biology: Study of organisms under the oceans.

  • Mathematics: Study of quantities, shapes, structures, spaces and their changes.

  • Mechanical Engineering: Science of using physics for the designing, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems.

  • Mechanics: Study of physical forces and their effects on objects.

  • Medicine: Science of healing a disease or disorder using set medical practices.

  • Metallurgy: Science that deals with the procedures used for metal extraction.

  • Applied science transfers scientific knowledge into a physical environment. It is necessary to help technological processes.

  • Applied sciences are important as they enable science to be more applicable in real life.

  • Without applied science, great scientific discoveries may be limited as human knowledge will increase but will be underutilized.

  • Every invention, medicine, structure, and technological advancement are a result of applied science.

Module 1.2: Science, Technology and Breakthroughs

  • Science and technology are interdependent but distinct activities.
  • Science contributes to technology in six ways:
    1. New knowledge serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological possibilities.
    2. Source of tools and techniques for efficient engineering design.
    3. Research instrumentation and analytical methods used in research find their way into design or industrial practices.
    4. Practice of research develops human skills and capabilities useful for technology.
    5. Knowledge base assesses technology's wider social and environmental impacts.
    6. Knowledge base enables efficient strategies for development and refinement of new technologies.
  • The impact of technology on science is equally important:
    • Provides novel scientific questions and justifies resource allocation.
    • Source of otherwise unavailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and more difficult scientific questions more efficiently.