-
Asked by meandt to Sue, Anna on 24 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by 10eqwal.
-
Sue Carney answered on 19 Jun 2011:
Hi meandt.
Sometimes I’m in awe at the enormity of science. It touches on every aspect of our lives and gives us the way of life we have today. Without science we wouldn’t have the food we eat, or clean running water or houses with heating in them or medicines and hospitals, or cars, or planes, or the type of clothes we’re used to, or… the list is endless! Our lives would be completely different and I doubt that people would live as long as they do today.
The brilliant thing about science though is that it doesn’t stop there. As well as all the obviously practical things science helps with, it also satisfies the deep curiosity that we have as humans. Science helps us to understand how nature and the universe work, and maybe even more important than that, it shows us all the things that we don’t know by giving us even more difficult questions to try to answer.
Whilst I love the very small area of science that I work in, and can say I’m an expert in, I’m also constantly aware that it’s a tiny, tiny fraction of the whole of science. I find that quite a comforting thought.
I hope that answers your question and, if you haven’t already, that one day you find an area of science that fascinates you as much as my work fascinates me. 🙂
-
-
Anna Williams answered on 24 Jun 2011:
Hi meandt and 10eqwal,
Thanks for asking a question as a follow-on from the online chat!It is quite difficult for me to say why I like science so much, as I sort of see it as a way of life, and not something that I have chosen, but something that has chosen me! I have always questioned things I have seen around me (my family get annoyed about how many questions I ask!), but I think it is one of the best ways of finding out about your surroundings, and ultimately, what science is about.
Science has allowed so many wonderful things to happen in the world, that it is difficult not to be in awe of it. It has allowed people to travel, across the planet and OFF the planet to other planets, and to understand where we came from and how we are here. It saves peoples lives all the time (see a similar question and answer http://ias.im/54.476) through engineering and medicine. It allows us to understand our bodies, which I think is fascinating, and, as Sue said, it helps us understand nature and the rest of the universe. It helps us understand why we see the phenomena we do, from thunderstorms and earthquakes, to caterpillars turning into butterflies.
I also like that thinking scientifically helps you tackle problems in every day life. For example, if you think ‘what shall i wear today?’, you can look at the weather forecast to help you decide. Or if you think ‘does he or she like me?’, you can try and gather some evidence to support or refute the hypothesis, and come to a sensible conclusion. Science is an good way to tackle life, basically!
Comments