essay about natural science

Science Essay Examples

Best Science Essay Examples to Learn From

Published on: May 3, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Share this article

Are you struggling to write a science essay that stands out? 

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by scientific jargon and complicated concepts? 

You're not alone. 

Science essays can be a challenge for even the most dedicated students. It's no wonder that so many students struggle to produce top-notch papers.

But fear not! 

In this blog post, we'll provide you with some science essay examples and tips. We will help you write a top-notch paper that impresses your professor and earns you a high grade. 

So buckle up and get ready to tackle science essays like a pro!

On This Page On This Page -->

Science Essay Examples for Students

Writing a science essay can be a daunting task for students. However, with the right guidance and examples, it can also be a rewarding and enlightening experience.

Here, we'll provide you with examples so you can elevate your own writing.

Science Essay Example SPM

Scientific Essay Example Pdf (Insert

Science Paper Example

Science Project Essay Example

Science Essay Examples for Different Subjects

Science is a vast field that encompasses many different subjects, from biology to physics to chemistry. As a student, you may find yourself tasked with writing a science essay on a subject that you're not particularly familiar with. 

We have provided you with science essay examples for different subjects to help you get started.

Social Science Essay Example

Political Science Essay Example

Environmental Science Essay Example

Health Science Essay Example

Computer Science Essay Example

University Science Essay Examples

Science essays are important part of university-level education. However, different universities may have different requirements and expectations when it comes to writing these essays. 

That's why we've compiled some science essay examples for different universities. You can see what works and what doesn't, and tailor your own writing accordingly.

Scientific Essay Example University

Mcmaster Health Science Essay Example

Cornell Arts And Science Essay Example

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Structure of a Science Essay

Science essays are a crucial part of many subjects, and learning to structure them effectively is essential for achieving academic success. 

Let’s explore scientific essay structure.

Introduction

The introduction of a science essay should introduce the topic and provide some context for the reader. 

You should explain the purpose of the essay and provide a thesis statement that outlines the main argument you will make in the essay. A good introduction should also capture the reader's interest and motivate them to read on.

Check out these how to start a science essay examples for better understanding:

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of a science essay should provide evidence to support the thesis statement. You should use scientific evidence, research, and data to support your argument. 

Each paragraph should focus on one key point, and the points should be organized logically to create a coherent argument. It is essential to provide citations for all sources you use in your essay.

Here is an example for you:

The conclusion of a science essay should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement in a compelling manner. 

You should also provide some final thoughts or recommendations based on the evidence presented in the essay. 

The conclusion should be concise and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Natural Science Essay Topics

There are countless interesting, thought-provoking and problem solving essay topics in science.

Explore some compelling natural science essay topics to inspire your writing.

Science Essay Topics for 5th Graders

• The importance of recycling for our environment
• The different types of clouds and how they form
• How animals hibernate during the winter months
• The different types of rocks and how they are formed
• The role of bees in pollination and food production
• How light travels and how we see objects
• The properties of magnets and how they work
• The different stages of stem cell research 
• The human digestive system and how it works
• The effects of pollution on our environment and health

Science Essay Topics for 6th Graders

• The impact of climate change on the planet
• The different types of energy and how they are produced
• The importance of water conservation and management
• The role of artificial intelligence in human life
• The structure and function of the human respiratory system
• The properties and uses of acids and bases
• The effect of light on plant growth and development
• The differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources
• The process of photosynthesis and its importance for life on Earth
• The impact of technology on the environment and society

Science Essay Topics for 7th Graders

• The structure and function of the human circulatory system
• The different types of fossils and how they are formed
• The impact of natural disasters on the environment and human life
• The pros and cons of bacteria in our bodies and in the environment
• The physics of sound and how it travels
• The effects of air pollution in United States
• The properties and uses of different types of waves (sound, light, etc.)
• The process of cell division and its role in growth and repair
• The structure and function of the human nervous system
• The different types of ecosystems and their unique characteristics

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Tips for Writing a Science Essay

Writing a science essay can be challenging, especially if you don't have much experience in writing academic papers. 

However, with the right approach and strategies, you can produce a high-quality science essays. 

Here are some tips to help you write a successful science essay:

Understand the assignment requirements: Before you start writing your essay, make sure you understand the assignment requirements. Read the prompt carefully and make note of any specific guidelines or formatting requirements.

Choose a topic that interests you: Writing about a topic that you find interesting and engaging can make the process enjoyable and rewarding. Consider topics that you have studied in class or that you have a personal interest in.

Conduct thorough research: To write a successful science essay, you need to have a deep understanding of the topic you are writing about. Conduct thorough research using reliable sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and reputable websites.

Develop a clear and concise thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state your argument or position on the topic you are writing about. It should be concise and specific, and should be supported by evidence throughout your essay.

Use evidence to support your claims: When writing a science essay, it's important to use evidence to support your claims and arguments. This can include scientific data, research findings, and expert opinions.

Edit and proofread your essay: Before submitting your essay, make sure to edit and proofread it carefully. Check for spelling and grammatical errors. Ensure that your essay is formatted correctly according to the assignment requirements.

In conclusion, this blog has provided a comprehensive guide to writing a successful science essay. 

By following the tips, students can produce high-quality essays that showcase their understanding of science.

If you're struggling to write a science essay or need additional assistance, CollegeEssay.org is one of the best online essay services to help you out,

Our expert writers have extensive experience in writing science essays for students of all levels. 

So why wait? Contact our science essay writing service today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a science essay.

Some common mistakes to avoid include:

• Plagiarizing content
• Using incorrect or unreliable sources
• Failing to clearly state your thesis
• Using overly complex language 

How can I make my science essay stand out?

To make your science essay stand out, consider choosing a unique or controversial topic. Using relevant and up-to-date sources, and present your information in a clear and concise manner. You can also consider using visuals such as graphs or charts to enhance your essay.

What should I do if I'm struggling to come up with a topic for my science essay?

If you're struggling to come up with a topic for your science essay, consider discussing potential topics with your instructor or classmates. You can also conduct research online or in academic journals to find inspiration.

How important is research when writing a science essay?

Research is an essential component of writing a science essay. Your essay should be grounded in accurate and reliable scientific information. That is why it's important to conduct thorough research using reputable sources.

Can I use personal anecdotes or experiences in my science essay?

While personal anecdotes or experiences can be engaging, they may not always be relevant to a science essay. It's important to focus on presenting factual information and scientific evidence to support your argument or position.

Caleb S. (Law, Literature)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

Natural sciences

TOK Home > Free TOK notes > Areas of knowledge > Natural sciences

Welcome to the natural sciences section of the site. This page will help you to take ownership of the natural sciences via a quick overview, and four padlets that offer you quotes, knowledge questions, real-world issues, and key thinkers relating to this area of knowledge.

You can use this content both to understand this component of TOK, and support discussions and arguments that you offer in your essay and exhibition.

Natural sciences: a quick overview

The natural sciences are dedicated to the systematic exploration and understanding of the physical world and the laws that govern it. This area of knowledge encompasses disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy, that all seek to uncover the mysteries of the natural universe. This AOK links to many key concepts.

Certainty  plays a central role in the natural sciences, as they seek to establish empirical and predictable patterns in the physical world.  Explanation  involves deciphering the underlying principles and mechanisms that govern natural phenomena. The concept of  objectivity  emphasizes the importance of unbiased observation and impartial analysis in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Two influential thinkers in the natural sciences from diverse backgrounds are Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. Marie Curie, a Polish-born physicist and chemist, made groundbreaking contributions to the study of radioactivity and was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Albert Einstein, a German-born physicist, revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and the universe through his theory of relativity.

Contemporary issues in the natural sciences often revolve around ethical considerations and the responsible use of scientific advancements. Discussions about  genetic engineering and CRISPR technology  raise questions about the ethical boundaries of manipulating the genetic code and the potential consequences for future generations. Additionally, the exploration of  climate change and sustainability  underscores the need for scientific solutions to address urgent global environmental challenges.

Engaging with the natural sciences within TOK invites students to explore the wonders of the physical world, embrace the certainty of empirical evidence, and critically examine the ethical implications of scientific discoveries. It underscores the importance of objectivity, universal truths, and the ethical considerations inherent in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

1 QUOTES Who wrote “Art is I; science is we”?

Explore these quotes on the natural sciences by a wide range of different thinkers. Which quotes are the most and least insightful? How they challenge our assumptions about natural sciences? What do they reveal about links between natural sciences and other aspects of the TOK course?

2 KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS Is science characterised by content, or method?

Identifying and exploring knowledge questions (KQs) is at the heart of TOK, prompting us to reflect on our knowledge, evaluate whether it’s be based on a flawed or incomplete assumptions, and provide us with a focus point to improve our understanding of the world.

3 REAL-WORLD ISSUES Should organisms be named after humans?

These examples will help you to understand how TOK ideas manifest in the real-world, take ownership of natural sciences, link TOK to the latest global issues, and become an authentic critical thinker . They will also help you to justify and explore the discussions you offer in your essay and exhibition.

4 KEY THINKERS Is Stuart Firestein right that science develops haphazardly?

The thinkers in this padlet will help you to consolidate your understanding of the natural sciences, and challenge your assumptions about the world. You can also draw on their ideas to support your essay and exhibition discussions, and add depth and authority to the claims you make about knowledge.

HUMAN SCIENCES: DEEPER DIVES

Follow these links to access a range of notes, essays, and observations. Use them to research this AOK, and hone your essay arguments.

• 1 Theories and thinkers on the natural sciences
• 2 How do we acquire knowledge in the natural sciences?
• 3 What qualifies a method as scientific?
• 4 How has scientific progress shaped our worldview?

Subscribe to the free TOK newsletter!

Subscribe to our free newsletter, and collect fantastic examples to help you understand the key TOK ideas, support your essay and exhibition, and make you an authentic critical thinker .

You’ll encounter some of the most important thinkers from the past and the present, go beyond the headlines of contemporary events and issues around the globe, and see how TOK concepts manifest in the real-world. Subscribe HERE !

Seeing plants anew

The stunningly complex behaviour of plants has led to a new way of thinking about our world: plant philosophy

Stella Sandford

Sex and sexuality

Sexual sensation

What makes touch on some parts of the body erotic but not others? Cutting-edge biologists are arriving at new answers

David J Linden

A spectacular, close-up look at the starfish with a ‘hands-on’ approach to parenting

Human reproduction

When babies are born, they cry in the accent of their mother tongue: how does language begin in the womb?

Darshana Narayanan

Technology and the self

A filmmaker finds a tactile beauty in the creation of her prosthetic leg

An Indigenous myth and a geological survey elicit two ways of knowing one place

Beetles take flight at 6,000 frames per second in this perspective-shifting short

War and peace

A war meteorologist’s riveting account of how the Allies averted a D-Day disaster

Politics and government

Governing for the planet

Nation-states are no longer fit for purpose to create a habitable future for humans and nature. Which political system is?

Jonathan S Blake & Nils Gilman

What does it look like to hunt for dark matter? Scenes from one frontier in the search

We are not machines

Welcome to the new post-genomic biology: a transformative era in need of fresh metaphors to understand how life works

Philip Ball

Progress and modernity

In praise of magical thinking

Once we all had knowledge of how to heal ourselves using plants and animals. The future would be sweeter for renewing it

Anna Badkhen

An elegy for a dying microbe explores what we really mean by ‘death’

History of technology

Learning to love monsters

Windmills were once just machines on the land but now seem delightfully bucolic. Could wind turbines win us over too?

Stephen Case

Biotechnology

It’s our responsibility to engineer corals that can weather the world we’ve created

Imagining spacetime as a visible grid is an extraordinary journey into the unseen

Engineering

For one of nature’s great builders, finding a mate means weaving the perfect nest

History of science

His radiant formula

Stephen Hawking’s greatest legacy – a simple little equation now 50 years old – revealed a shocking aspect of black holes

Roger Highfield

What is intelligent life?

Our human minds hold us back from truly understanding the many brilliant ways that other creatures solve their problems

Abigail Desmond & Michael Haslam

Pleasure and pain

Eulogy for silence

Tinnitus is like a constant scream inside my head, depriving me of what I formerly treasured: the moments of serene quiet

Diego Ramírez Martín del Campo

History of ideas

Chaos and cause

Can a butterfly’s wings trigger a distant hurricane? The answer depends on the perspective you take: physics or human agency

Erik Van Aken

Philosophy of mind

Do plants have minds?

In the 1840s, the iconoclastic scientist Gustav Fechner made an inspired case for taking seriously the interior lives of plants

Rachael Petersen

Illness and disease

Getting past ‘it’s IBS’

While science illuminates the gut-brain relationship, doctors remain ignorant and dismissive of patients with gut problems

Animals and humans

Why be dragons? How massive, reptilian beasts entered our collective imagination

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

When did science begin?

Where was science invented.

• Who was Emanuel Swedenborg?
• Why did Emanuel Swedenborg study theology?
• What did Aristotle do?

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• World History Encyclopedia - Science
• LiveScience - What Is Science?
• Digital Commons at Trinity University - Jagadish Chandra Bose and Vedantic Science
• Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Science and Ideology
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Science and Pseudo-Science
• science - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• science - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Observing the natural world and paying attention to its patterns has been part of human history from the very beginning. However, studying nature to understand it purely for its own sake seems to have had its start among the pre-Socratic philosophers of the 6th century BCE, such as Thales and Anaximander .

How is science related to math?

Science uses mathematics extensively as a powerful tool in the further understanding of phenomena. Sometimes scientific discoveries have inspired mathematicians, and at other times scientists have realized that forms of mathematics that were developed without any regard for their usefulness could be applied to understanding the physical world.

All peoples have studied the natural world, but most ancient peoples studied it for practical purposes, such as paying attention to natural cycles to know when to plant crops. It does not seem to have been until the 6th century BCE that the pre-Socratic philosophers (who lived in what is now Turkey and Greece) began seeking to understand nature as an end in itself.

Recent News

science , any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation. In general, a science involves a pursuit of knowledge covering general truths or the operations of fundamental laws.

Science can be divided into different branches based on the subject of study. The physical sciences study the inorganic world and comprise the fields of astronomy , physics , chemistry , and the Earth sciences . The biological sciences such as biology and medicine study the organic world of life and its processes. Social sciences like anthropology and economics study the social and cultural aspects of human behaviour .

Science is further treated in a number of articles. For the history of Western and Eastern science, see science, history of . For the conceptualization of science and its interrelationships with culture , see science, philosophy of . For the basic aspects of the scientific approach, see physical science, principles of ; and scientific method .

Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking Analytical Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Brief history, stem cell research criticism, ethical dilemma in stem cell research.

In natural science, scientists seek to expound on the rules of nature that govern and influence our existence through scientific methods. The discipline is described as natural science to distinguish it from other branches of science such as social science, which is more concerned with the patterns and changes in human behavior.

Natural science is divided into five branches: astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and the earth science (Graen & Gooding, 2005). It is highly believed in the scientific world that natural science is purely driven by curiosity.

The history of natural science can be traced back to the pre-literate human era when understanding the natural world was a necessity for survival (Graen & Gooding, 2005). Knowledge was passed from generation to generation and that is how natural science came into existence. This paper seeks to outline and discuss the ethical dilemmas in natural science and precisely in stem cell research.

There has been an enormous progress in natural science over the years. One of the latest developments in this discipline is the stem cell research. However, natural science has its challenges, which include ethical issues. To describe what stem cell research is all about, it is important to understand what it entails.

All organisms are classified as either unicellular organisms or multicellular organisms. Unicellular organisms are those organisms that consist of a single cell such as bacteria while multicellular organisms are made up of many cells (Graen & Gooding, 2005). They include plants and animals.

Considering that the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms, stem cell research has had a great impact on natural science. Therefore, stem cells are biological cells in multicellular organisms, which can divide through a biological process known as mitosis (Graen & Gooding, 2005). Through this process of division, individual cells differentiate into different and specialized cell types. Different cells therefore can self-renew to produce more of their kind.

The ability of stem cells to differentiate into any type of cells has brought forth an opportunity for the development of treatments in varied medical conditions (Peters, 2008). Conditions such as physical trauma, degenerative conditions, and genetic diseases are good examples of problems that stem cell research can help to mitigate (Graen & Gooding, 2005). There is further anticipation on the medicinal value of the stem cells especially in repairing damaged tissues (Peters, 2008).

Nonetheless, the regeneration of cells has its effects. This attracted a lot of criticism with some claiming that if the practice goes unchecked some people may assume Godly supremacy. Stem cell research has been attacked through two main ethical theories, which include Consequencialism and the Deontological ethics (Weiss, 2003). The consequences of the results of stem cell research have been under greater scrutiny and the rightness or wrongness of the practice is very unclear.

The decision to reject research funding by Clinton’s administration in 1995 was influenced by moral and ethical concerns (Weiss, 2003). Religious views that oppose the human embryonic stem cell research have also played a great role in opposing the practice. Religious groups such as the Christians oppose the practice of human stem cell research arguing that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God.

This therefore prohibits any human from getting involved in any scientific alteration of the original structural formation of the human cell or body structure let alone creation of it. Their concern is the destruction of the embryo in embryonic stem research. However, they have no problem with the adult stem cell research, which does not involve or require the destruction of the embryo (Weiss, 2003).

The Catholics insist that no form of life destruction practice is acceptable whether it is done to help others or not. Therefore, the destruction of the human embryo is unlikely to gather support from the Roman Catholic adherents. Church leaders have also raised concerns about the practice of regenerating stem cells from the tissues of aborted fetuses (Peters, 2008). They argue that this would further perpetuate the formidable act of abortion, which should be outlawed.

The ethical dilemma in the stem cell research has left the natural scientists with two critical moral choices. While it is their duty to avert and ease suffering, they also have the moral obligation to respect the value and protect human life. The embryonic stem cell research cannot support and respect both moral principles, because for scientists to obtain embryonic stem cells, the embryo has to be destroyed which means the destruction of a potential human life (Peters, 2008).

Nonetheless, it is possible to develop new medical treatment that can greatly help alleviate pain for suffering patients. The dilemma is to determine which moral obligation should take precedence. How to regard the embryo status is the main challenge in this dilemma. Many people feel an embryo has a full status of an actual person or a potential person. An embryo has further been defined as a full human being in the embryo stage. Hence, destroying it would amount to human life destruction.

On the other hand, supporters of the embryonic stem cell research argue that a human being is defined by psychological, emotional, and physical properties (Graen & Gooding, 2005). These essential characteristics of a human being need to be respected and protected. An early embryo that has not been implanted into the uterus is said to lack these properties (Graen & Gooding, 2005).

Therefore, destroying the embryo to benefit a patient who is a fully formed person is justified. Supporters of the stem cell research argue that it is inappropriate to treat something that has the potential to become a person as an actual person (Graen & Gooding, 2005).

The potentiality of an embryo used in vitro fertilization to survive and become an actual person is not guaranteed (Graen & Gooding, 2005). The 14 days after fertilization period is also a factor to consider when describing the potential for a fetus to develop into a real person.

Scientists argue that the 14-day window after fertilization creates a possibility that the embryo might form or fail. This should justify the embryonic stem cell research since the fertilization may or may not develop into a full person. Natural causes influence loss of more than half of fertilized eggs. Understanding this, embryonic stem cell researchers see no harm in their practice.

The dilemma and moral stands as discussed in this paper pose a challenge in natural science. Choosing to save one life leads to losing or exposing the other to suffering which is a real dilemma.

Graen, K., & Gooding, M. (2005). Research on Human Embryonic Stem Cells Is Ethical and Needs Additional Federal Funding . Web.

Peters, T. (2008). Proleptic Ethics vs. Stop Sign Ethics Theology and the Future of Genetics . Web.

Weiss, R. (2003). 400,000 Human Embryos Frozen in U.S . Web.

• Genetically Modified Food Essay
• New discipline in the natural sciences
• Stem Cell Research
• The Beginning of Life: Stages and Participants
• The Research and Use of Stem Cell Embryos
• Genetically Modified Foods Negative Aspects
• Analyzing the Prospects of Genetically Modified Foods
• Will Genetically Modified Foods Doom Us All?
• Super Weeds's Advantages and Disadvantages
• Concept of the Gene-Environment Interactions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, December 11). Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking. https://ivypanda.com/essays/natural-science-ethics-and-critical-thinking/

"Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking." IvyPanda , 11 Dec. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/natural-science-ethics-and-critical-thinking/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking'. 11 December.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking." December 11, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/natural-science-ethics-and-critical-thinking/.

1. IvyPanda . "Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking." December 11, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/natural-science-ethics-and-critical-thinking/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Natural Science, Ethics, and Critical Thinking." December 11, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/natural-science-ethics-and-critical-thinking/.

TOK - Essay: Natural Science

• Natural Science
• Human Science
• Mathematics
• Class of 2024 Essay Topics

Interdisciplinary

• << Previous: History
• Next: Human Science >>
• Last Updated: May 24, 2024 3:51 PM
• URL: https://nist.libguides.com/tok_essay

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Understanding Science

How science REALLY works...

• Understanding Science 101
• Misconceptions
• Science aims to build knowledge about the natural world.
• This knowledge is open to question and revision as we come up with new ideas and discover new evidence.
• Because it has been tested, scientific knowledge is reliable.

Misconception:  Scientific ideas are absolute and unchanging.

Misconception:  Because scientific ideas are tentative and subject to change, they can’t be trusted.

Correction:  Accepted scientific ideas are well-supported and reliable, but could be revised if warranted by the evidence.  Read more about it.

Science aims to explain and understand

The knowledge that is built by science is always open to question and revision. No scientific idea is ever once-and-for-all “proven” Why not? Well, science is constantly seeking new  evidence , which could reveal problems with our current understandings. Ideas that we fully  accept  today may be rejected or modified in light of new evidence discovered tomorrow. For example, up until 1938, paleontologists accepted the idea that coelacanths (an ancient fish) went extinct at the time that they last appear in the fossil record — about 80 million years ago. But that year, a live coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa, causing scientists to revise their ideas and to investigate how this animal survives in the deep sea.

Despite the fact that they are subject to change, scientific ideas are reliable. The ideas that have gained scientific acceptance have done so because they are supported by many lines of evidence and have generated many expectations that hold true. Such scientific ideas allow us to figure out how entities in the natural world are likely to behave (e.g., how likely it is that a child will inherit a particular genetic disease) and how we can harness that understanding to solve problems (e.g., how electricity, wire, glass, and various compounds can be fashioned into a working light bulb). For example, scientific understandings of motion and gases allow us to build airplanes that reliably get us from one airport to the next. Though the knowledge used to design airplanes could be modified and built upon, it is also reliable. Time and time again, that knowledge has allowed us to produce airplanes that fly. We have good reason to trust accepted scientific ideas: they work!

A SCIENCE PROTOTYPE: RUTHERFORD AND THE ATOM

Ernest Rutherford’s investigations were aimed at understanding a small, but illuminating, corner of the natural world: the atom. He investigated this world using alpha particles, which are helium atoms stripped of their electrons. Rutherford had found that when a beam of these tiny, positively-charged alpha particles is fired through gold foil, the particles don’t stay on their beeline course, but change direction when passing through the foil. Rutherford wanted to figure out what this might tell him about the layout of an atom.

Rutherford’s story continues as we examine each item on the Science Checklist. To find out how this investigation measures up against the rest of the checklist, read on.

• Take a sidetrip
• Teaching resources

Science builds reliable knowledge, but does it seek the truth? Learn more in our side trip on  The many meanings of truth .

• Learn strategies for building lessons and activities around the Science Checklist: Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Grades 13-16
• Get  graphics and pdfs of the Science Checklist  to use in your classroom.

A science checklist

Science works with testable ideas

Subscribe to our newsletter

• The science flowchart
• Science stories
• Grade-level teaching guides
• Teaching resource database
• Journaling tool

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts

Latest science news, discoveries and analysis

The pathogens that could spark the next pandemic

‘Publish or Perish’ is now a card game — not just an academic’s life

The world’s most expensive dinosaur and more — July’s best science images

US postdoc support from NIH could be capped at five years — sparking criticism

The mathematician who helps olympic swimmers go faster, is that a durian no, it’s a weird ancient mollusc, these ai firms publish the world’s most highly cited work, how pregnancy transforms the brain to prepare it for parenthood, guidelines on lab-grown embryo models are strong enough to meet ethical standards — and will build trust science roger sturmey.

How light-based computers could cut AI’s energy needs

How to spot a predatory conference, and what science needs to do about them: a guide

Fish can tell the direction of sounds — here’s how

Sexual harassment in science: biologists in India speak out

How a space physicist is shaking up china’s research funding, your nose has its own army of immune cells — here’s how it protects you, first map of an ice shelf’s bottom reveals mysterious melt patterns, ‘ocean ranching’ has led to a pink-salmon boom — but there might be a catch.

Predatory conferences are on the rise. Here are five ways to tackle them

Stop just paying lip service on publication integrity

V. Craig Jordan obituary: pharmacologist who revolutionized breast cancer treatments

Maxine singer obituary: biologist who shaped genetic engineering and fought discrimination, science must protect thinking time in a world of instant communication, current issue.

Carbon pricing reduces emissions

A hot-jupiter progenitor on a super-eccentric retrograde orbit, partial coherence enhances parallelized photonic computing, research analysis.

Cheap light sources could make AI more energy efficient

Microchip minutiae imaged using rapid X-ray bursts

Mental maps help monkeys to navigate without sensory input

Stronger Gulf Stream during the last ice age

Rhapsodies in green: the poetry of plant biology, blocking an inflammatory protein slows the pace of ageing, forests don’t just absorb co2 — they also take up methane.

I’m a Palestinian scientist building a more inclusive future

Are our rock-climbing shoes shedding plastics?

Meet the retired scientists who collaborate with younger colleagues

We are junior scientists from emerging economies — the world needs more researchers like us solving global problems, why you should perform a premortem on your research, books & culture.

Could crabs be conscious, can you beat hypochondria and more: top reads for summer

Last men standing

The Napoleonic tweets, Books in brief

The future of mars colony two, every part of you, nature podcast.

Latest videos

Nature briefing.

An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, delivered to your inbox every weekday.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• BiologyDiscussion.com
• Follow Us On:
• Google Plus
• Publish Now

Essay on Science: Meaning, Scope, Nature, Technology and Society

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Essay on Science:- 1. Meaning and Definitions of Science 2. Scope of Science 3. Nature of Science 4. Physical Science 5. Science and Social Environment 6. Science and Technology 7. Science and Society 8. Scientific Method and Its Steps.

• Essay on Scientific Method and Its Steps

Essay # 1. Meaning and Definitions of Science :

Meaning of Science:

The English word Science is derived from a Latin Verb ‘Scire’, which means ‘to know’ and Latin Noun ‘Scientia’ which means ‘knowledge’. Meaning of Science is based on German word ‘ Wissenchaft’, which means systematic, organized knowledge. Thus, Science is a systematized knowledge.

The necessity and curiosity of man to know about himself and his surroundings has led him to investigate, find and to know about living beings and nature, which to verifiable knowledge of facts. But Science is not always about the collection of facts or development of new concepts or ideas. It is all about the passion for the discovery that drives one to explore the environment and the nature in every aspect.

Science is basically founded to investigate the nature and its processes. Although there are a number of other methods that can be utilized to acquire the knowledge about nature, but science is considered as the only one that results in the acquisition of reliable knowledge. Hence, Rene Descartes said, “Science is a method of investigating nature that discovers reliable knowledge about it.”

Science is the investigation of unknown phenomena and it also looks and compares with existing principles, theories and practices. Science is both a particular kind of activity and also the result of that activity. Science uses tools like observation, measurement and scientific experimentation and is entirely based on the observable facts.

Science is observation, identification, description, experimentation, investigation and theoretical explanation of the phenomenon that occur in nature.

Science could be described as the study, which attempts to perceive and understand the nature of the universe both living and non-living in its part and as a whole.

Definitions of Science :

During early times people perceived Science, as what the scientist does. There are many definitions available, though not a single definition could be universally accepted.

Some of the definitions are mentioned here to understand it from different angles:

1. According to Columbian Dictionary:

“Science is an accumulated and systematized learning in general usage restricted to natural phenomenon”.

2. Einstein (1879-1955):

“Science is an attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our sense experience corresponds to logically uniform system of thought”.

3. Fitzpatrick (1960):

“Science is a cumulative and endless series of empirical observations, which results in the formation of concepts and theories, with both concepts and theories being subject to modification in the light of further empirical observations. Science is both a body of knowledge and the process of acquiring it”.

4. Bronowski, J. (1956):

“Science as the organization of our knowledge in such a way that it commands or makes possible the explanation of more of the hidden potentialities found in the environment”.

5. Conant (1957):

“An interconnected series of concepts and conceptual schemes that have developed as a result of experimentation and observation and are fruitful of further experimentation and observation”.

6. Fisher (1975):

“Science is the body of Knowledge obtained by methods, based upon observation”.

The above definitions clearly reveal that Science is both a process and product. A comprehensive definition of Science would be “science is a systematized knowledge gained through human observation and experi­mentation of cause revealing the unknown phenomenon of nature and universe both living and non-living involving the process of critical, creative thinking and investigation including sometimes sudden insights too.”

Science = Process + Product

= Methods + Knowledge

= Scientific Method + Scientific Attitude + Scientific Knowledge

Essay #  2. Scope of Science :

Science is a body of knowledge obtained by methods based upon observation. Observation is authentic and that it is only through the senses of man that observations can be made. Thus, anything outside the limits of man’s senses is outside the limits of science. In other words, science deals with the universe and galaxies in the forms of matter and energy which is in the form of living and non-living.

Science employs a number of instruments to extend mail’s senses to the extremely minute to very vast, to the short-time duration or long-time duration, to dilute or to concentrate and so on and so forth which does not alter the conclusion that science is limited to that which is observable.

Thus, as in any other discipline contemporary experimental techniques set up some practical limitations but these are not to be confused with the intrinsic limitations inherent in the very nature of science. The knowledge of science is tested and retested and also reinvented.

Today the disciplines of Science and Social Sciences are drawing into each other. Behavioural zoologists study the sociology and psychology of animals. Archaeologists derive new insights from the rapid advances in chemical and physical analysis. Hence sciences should be understood with interdisciplinary approach within science as a whole. Biology draws on chemistry, physics and geology.

ADVERTISEMENTS: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Essay # 3. Nature of Science:

Human by birth has quest for knowledge as they are curious of knowing about nature. They have a highly developed brain because of which they can observe precisely, correlate observations and predict future happenings on the basis of their observation. This ability helped humans to adjust to nature. The process of observing, describing, exploring and using the physical world is science.

Science has certain characteristics which distinguish it from other spheres of human endeavour.

These characteristics define the nature of science as discussed below:

Science is a Particular way of Looking at Nature :

1. Science is a way of learning about what the nature is, how the nature behaves and how the nature got to be the way it is.

2. Science focuses exclusively on the nature.

3. It is not simply a collection of facts; rather it is a path to understand the phenomenon underlying.

(i) Science is, just the nature existing around you.

(ii) Every day we look at the rising sun and pay great respect to it for bestowing the earth with its light in energy form.

(iii) The knowledge of all that is in the universe from the tiniest sub­atomic particles in an atom to universe and galaxies.

Science as a Rapidly Expanding Body of Knowledge :

1. Science is the dynamic, ever expanding knowledge, covering every new domain of experiences.

2. Knowledge refers to the product of science, such as the concepts and explanations.

3. Research being carried out in the field of science resulted in developing more knowledge at a faster pace sometimes by replacing old concepts, ideas or principles.

The technological developments that took place in recent times enhanced the acceleration of knowledge.

Science as an Interdisciplinary Area of Learning:

1. In the last two decades there have been studies claiming that science is becoming even more an interdisciplinary area of learning.

2. Science cannot be taught in isolation. All the branches of science are interdependent upon all other and there are a number of facts and principles which are common to various science subjects.

3. Knowledge started expanding day by day; scientists started specialising in certain areas. Hence the knowledge has been organized for convenience into different disciplines.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biological and information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, zoology, mineralogy, oceanology, limnology, soil science, geology of atomospheric science and geodesy).

Science as a Truly International Enterprise :

1. International collaboration in most of the projects is the order of the day.

2. In collaborative research, visibility among the peer and active exploitation of complementary capabilities increase.

3. Share the costs of the projects that are large in scale and scope.

4. Able to access expensive physical resources.

5. Exchange ideas in order to encourage greater creativity.

The large Hadron collides; at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has been build up by scientists drawn from many countries including India. The experiment on this machine is being conducted by scientists from many countries including many Indian scientists. In this sense, science do not belong to any single country or a group of countries and it would be morally and ethically wrong to deny the fruits of scientific development to any country in the world.

Science as Always Tentative :

Scientific models are always being questioned. Up-and-coming scientists always find gaps or errors in existing scientific models and develop a new one in place of them. In scientific field models have been tested and refined to such an extent that errors are likely to be minor. The real evidences need to be scrutinized carefully.

Marine researchers have expressed concern about the effect of global warming on the future of coral reefs because increasing sea temperature cause coral bleaching. Bleaching happens; the corals expel the algae that live within their cells die, when temperature rises. Recent research have tentatively showed that some algae may be able to adapt to temperature rises, consequently improved the chances that corals can survive.

Tentative Nature of Scientific Theories :

1. Scientific theories took decades in their development.

2. When two competing theories explain their observations related to a certain phenomenon, Scientists prefer to accept a theory which explains larger number of observations with few assumptions.

There was a time when both the geocentric and the heliocentric theories explained all the planetary observations. However geocentric theory had to introduce a new assumption every time. On the other hand, the heliocentric theory with just one assumption that all the planets revolve round the sun, it explained every available observation and eventually survived.

The fact remains that scientific theories are tentative and are always subject to change.

Science Promotes Skepticism :

“In science, keeping an open mind is a virtue just not so open that your brains fall out”-James Oberg.

1. Skepticism does not mean doubting the validity of everything, rather to judge the validity of a claim based on objective empirical evidences.

2. David Hume, the 18th century philosopher viewed that we should accept nothing as true unless the evidences available makes the non-existence of the thing more miraculous than its existence.

3. We examine the available evidences before reaching a decision until sufficient evidences are found.

Scientists are Highly Skeptic People :

‘Science is what scientists do’.

1. The scientists in different fields try to describe the phenomena in nature and establish their relationships.

2. After having described the phenomena, scientists attempt to find out the reason behind and make predictions.

3. Scientists use ideas of their own and of others as tools for testing and gaining knowledge. They use many resources to get valid answers to their questions and problems, by designing their own experiments and invent new tools with which they observe and check different phenomena. Hence, scientists are highly skeptic people.

For instances, if we look at Newton’s story the way he was inspired to formulate his theory of gravitation by watching the fall of an apple from a tree speaks his skeptic nature. Though many scientists and other common men were aware that all the objects descend perpendicularly to the ground, they never pondered upon it. This incident prompted Newton to explore the possibility of connecting gravity with the force that kept the moon on its orbit. This led him to the universal law of gravity.

Charles Goodyear (1800) a chemist and manufacturing engineer who developed vulcanized rubber. His discovery was accidental, where he explored the situation and after five years of searching for a more stable rubber and stumbling upon the effectiveness of heating.

Science Demands Perseverance from its Practitioners :

1. The important characteristic of science that brings development and progress is perseverance of scientists.

2. Scientists getting an inspirational idea or a creative thought have to persist with the idea to take it to its logical conclusions, based on facts or observations.

3. Scientists may work alone or join with others in developing the idea further to find out ways to discover or invention, While at other times the scientists can make only a beginning and then others join them in developing the idea further.

The discovery of the wonder drug pencillin by Alexander Fleming in 1929 is the result of an incident happened by a chance which led to serious observation followed by hard work paved the way for discovery of many other antibiotics like Streptomycin and Erythromycin.

Science as an Approach to Investigate and as a Process of Constructing Knowledge :

1. The investigations in science involve some form of scientific method.

2. Scientists for seeking solution to a problem use different methods like observation, prediction and sometimes experimentation to study the cause and effect relationship.

3. Whatever we observe through our senses (information) is sent to the brain and the brain processes the information by registering, classifying, generalising etc., and converts into knowledge. Sensory perception is primary in knowledge development.

4. Here, the individual constructs the knowledge on his own by applying their own mental abilities and intelligence to process the information received through senses.

5. The basic unit of knowledge is fact. In science any repeatedly verifiable observation becomes a fact.

6. Scientific approach always is based on cause and effect relation.

Examples of facts are:

i. Solids have definite shape and volume.

ii. The rainbow is seen in a direction opposite to that of the sun.

Essay #  4. Physical Science :

The child is interested to learn things which are related to his experiences. This could be possible only when the subjects are integrated and correlated rather than in isolation. The other physical sciences also have equally contributed a lot to the field of biological studies.

Obviously we can’t teach and understand each and every thing about a particular branch of science without the help of other sciences. The child on the other hand can’t appreciate and understand the branches of science in isolation from others. The study of interrelatedness helps the child to understand the concepts easily, more interesting and natural.

Science cannot be taught in isolation. All the branches of science are interdependent upon each other and there are a number of facts and principles which are common to various science subjects. This however does not mean that the teacher of one branch of science ought to know everything of other branches of science.

But it is very much essential that he should have sufficient knowledge of other sciences so as to bring about integration of subjects. He should also know where to depart from his own subject and how much should he venture into areas which are not his own.

The following example may be taken:

1. A teacher while teaching the sense organs says an eye should make a parallelism with a camera, which the student has learnt in physics. To understand the images, knowledge of image formation by the convex lens is essential.

E.g. (a) The rays which pass through the centre of the lens travel straight without any change in direction.

(b) The rays which run parallel to the principal axis pass through the focus of the lens after refraction from the lens.

Again when the teacher is teaching the same topic in the period of human physiology, the defects in the eye i.e., short sightedness (by the elongation of the eyeball and the image in formed a little in front of the retina and not exactly on the retina) he should know other factors also which cause the shifting of the image.

E.g. (a) By changing the distance between the lens and object.

(b) By changing the distance between the lens and the screen.

(c) By changing the total length of lens.

If the teacher possesses knowledge of physics he can most successfully correlate his topic with other branches of science and make the whole knowledge easily acceptable to the children.

2. Similarly while teaching digestive system the teacher should have adequate knowledge of chemistry without the help of which he cannot justify the topic.

The teacher must correlate it by telling about:

(a) Soluble and insoluble constituents of our diet.

(b) Chemistry of different digestive juices and their effect on the constituents of food that we take.

(c) The final products and the process of assimilation of products by the membranes of different organs. This will involve the reference of concepts of osmosis, density and the pressure etc.

Science is universal; it has no barrier of any kind as too has no barriers. The recent advances in the field of science and technology and its wide application as well as their use in daily life situation justify the utilitarian value of science. Taxonomy reveals the unity in diversity. Evolution and mutation theories help us understand the relation of living forms.

Motion, Mass and Energy related theories relate Universe, Sun, Earth and all other planets and their existence. Further their relation to life forms. Hence in nature everything is in relation and co-existence. This is what has to be understood by the student in the study of scientific theories and phenomenon.

Essay # 5. Science and Social Environment:

Relating science education with the environment of a child has been the prime concern of educationists. The environment of the child includes natural and social environment.

In science we learn about the nature’s phenomena. Human is a part of nature. Therefore, every effort should be made to integrate science with learning the environment. The science curriculum should address issues and concerns related to environment such as climate change, acid rain, growth of water, eutrophication and various types of pollutions etc. Further, it should be applied to society to understand social phenomenon in a scientific way and solve all social problems with all objectivity and universal application.

Science teachers should aim to enlighten the young minds with the wonders of science. They should be engaged to construct the knowledge through an interdisciplinary approach appreciating its relation and impact on the social and natural environment. They can recognize the competence of science by doing activities related to their everyday life.

Current issues and events in science like new technological innovations, scientific discoveries, can be examined through social, economic and ethical perspectives to help students in relating these issues with one another and explore their areas of interest.

The significance of chemistry to society can be highlighted by discussing the chemical components used in products that have altered agriculture, food, health, medicine, electronics, transportation, technology and the natural environments. To understand its relevance to home economics, one can think what happens to the electricity bill if solar cooker, solar heater, solar lanterns and CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) are used.

For Instances- Bhopal Tragedy Unforgettable Industrial Disaster :

Industries are the symbols of development, but other side of the coin is lack of safety measures and irresponsibility of emitting pollutants. On 2 nd December 1984 about 3000 human beings died and 5000 were effected seriously, thousands of cattle, birds, dogs, and cats died in just one night at Bhopal tragedy.

These mass deaths were due to the leakage of Methyle Isocyanate (MIC) into the air from an insecticide factory managed by union carbide. Thousands of lives helplessly crushed in this incident. This is unforgettable industrial disaster towards air pollution.

Essay # 6. Science and Technology :

Technology is often equated to applied sciences and its domain is generally thought to include mechanical, electrical, optical, electronic devices and instruments, the house hold and commercial gadgets, equipment used in physics, chemistry, biology, nuclear science etc. These various sub-domains of technology are interrelated. Modern technology is an applied science because the basic principles of sciences are applied to develop the technology.

Science and technology are linked to each other. Discoveries in science have paved the way for the evolution of new technologies. At the same time technology has been instrumental in the development of science.

Han’s Christian Oersted, one of the leading scientists of the 19 th century, played a crucial role in understanding electromagnetism. In 1820 he discovered that a compass needle got deflected when an electric current passed through a metallic wire placed nearby. Through this he showed that electricity and magnetism were related phenomena. His research later created technologies such as radio, television and fiber optics.

The development of microscope by Antony Van Leeuwenhock, where he interwined optical principles with astronomical and biological understanding which further led to the development of the telescope.

Thus, science influences technology by providing knowledge and methodology. But on the other hand technology also influences science by providing equipments to find out the unknown phenomenon of the nature. This shows interdependence of science and technology.

In science we inquire how a natural phenomenon occurs, while in technology we deal with how the scientific processes can also be used for human welfare. Technology as a discipline has its own autonomy and should not be regarded as a mere extension of science.

Basically science is an open ended exploration; its end results are not fixed in advance. Technology on the other hand, is also an exploration but usually with a definite goal in mind. Science is universal; technology is goal oriented and often local specific.

People today are faced with an increasingly fast-changing world where the most important skills are flexibility in adapting to new demands and creativity in taking advantages of new opportunities. These imperatives have to be kept in mind in shaping science education.

Essay # 7. Science and Society :

The applications of science and technology have led to the remarkable improvement in the quality of human life. It has given lot of comfort and leisure to the human kind on one side and equipped it with skills needed for problem solving and decision making on the other side. It has changed the outlook of the individual on different beliefs, myths, taboos and superstitions.

People started working with logical thinking, objectivity and open mindedness. Modern society believed in the co-existence of diversity in social and political thinking. Science always works for the welfare of our future generations by talking about sustainable development. Society is also showing its concern using the scientific knowledge for peace and prosperity of the society.

For instances, consuming tobacco (Gutkha, cigarettes, beedi, khaini) damages the internal organs of the body. The numbers of addicted people at the age of 15 or below are 57.57 lakhs (68%) both in Telengana and Andhra. When they reach 30 yrs. of age thin internal organs becomes damaged, this may lead to several problems and sometimes lead to death.

It is a dangerous trend in our country. So, we have to inculcate healthy habits in children by teaching science. Many youth are also addicted to alcohol which damages the liver and other body organs which in turn also affects human resource development.

Let Us Think It Over:

Do you know that our eyes can live even after our death? By donating our eyes after we die, we can give sight to a blind person.

About 35 million people in the developing world are blind and most of them can be cured. About 4.5 million people are with corneal blindness, can be cured by corneal transplantation of donated eyes. Out of these 4.5 million, 60% are children below the age of 12 yrs. So, if we got the gift of vision, let us pass it on to somebody who does not have it.

Essay # 8. Scientific Method and Its Steps:

1. The development of scientific attitude and training in scientific method are two cardinal aims for the teaching of science. In other words it is a method of solving a problem scientifically.

2. Scientific method involves reflective thinking, reasoning and results from the achievement of certain abilities, skills and attitudes.

Definition of Scientific Method :

Carl Pearson says, ‘The scientific method is marked by the following features:

1. Careful and accurate classification of facts.

2. Observation of their co-relation and sequence.

3. Discovery of scientific law by creative imagination, and self-criticism.

4. The final touch-stone of equal validity for all normally constituted needs.

Steps of Scientific Method:

Observation :

Observation is the base for science. It knows the phenomenon through senses. Without control of external or internal situations.

1. It is the way we perceive the nature and using the senses and processed through the faculty of brain.

2. It is a process of checking conclusions. After observation we try to explain what we have seen based on cause and effect relation. In science repeatedly verifiable observations becomes a fact.

Facts are specific verifiable information obtained through observation and measurement. They are verifiable with reference to time and place.

Some facts do not require the time and place to be mentioned. Ex- Iron is a greyish hard metal.

Some facts are specific like ‘water boils at 100°C at 760mm Hg of pressure.

A concept is an idea or a mental image of an object is generalised forms of specific relevant direct experiences interpreted in a language or word form for communication.

1. Concepts. Ex. plant, animal etc.

2. According to Bruner, every concept has five elements i.e. name, example (positive & negative), attributes (characteristics) attribute value and rule (definition).

3. Concepts formed without direct experiences may lead to misconceptions. Hence, care should be taken in provide direct experiences in learning process.

Principles :

Principles are based on several concepts. They are the representation of phenomena on which the activities or behaviour can be generalised to some extent.

A number of concepts combine in a way to convey meaning which can be tested and verified universally, becomes a principle.

Ex- Mytosis, Meiosis, Glycolysis, Photosynthe sis, Mutations, Evolution etc.

Scientific Inquiry :

It occupies a prominent place in science as it helps pupils to understand how scientific ideas are developed.

1. It is broadly defined as a search for truth or knowledge. Emphasis is placed on the aspects of search rather than on the mere acquisition of knowledge.

2. Empirical testing, reasoning and controlled experimenting are some of the methods of science inquiry.

The steps in scientific methods are illustrated with a specific example:

The teacher demonstrates an experiment to the students to show that water boils at low temperature under low pressure.

1. Sensing the Problem:

The teacher provides a situation in which the students feel the need of asking some questions. Teacher may also put questions which require reflective thinking and reasoning on the part of the students, this may become a problem to solve. The interest of the students, availability of the material and its utility should be considered.

A flask was taken and filled it half with water. Boil the water over a flame. Remove the flame. Cork the flask. Invert it and pour cold water on the flask. The students observe the process carefully and saw that water has begun to boil again when cold water is poured on the bottom of the inverted flask. They at once sense a problem for themselves finding out the reason and explanation of what they have seen.

2. Defining the Problem:

The student now defines the problem in a concise, definite and clear language. There should be some key-words in the statement of the problem, which may help in better understanding the problem.

The student can give different statements such as:

(i) Why is water boiling?

(ii) Why did the water boil first?

(iii) Why was the flask corked and then inverted?

(iv) Why was cold water poured over the bottom of the inverted flask?

(v) Why did the water boil in the flask when cold water is poured over the inverted flask?

Of all these statements, the last one is in fact the problem which should be solved.

3. Analysis of the Problem:

The student now fined the key words and phrases in the problem which provide clue to further study of the problem. At the same time, the students must have knowledge of every key word and the understanding of the whole problem. In our selected problem ‘water boil’ or the boiling of the water are the key words which gives us clue to find information regarding the boiling of water under different conditions.

Collection of Data :

After analysis of the problem the teacher suggests references on the problem. The student needs to plan the subsequent activities. They have to discuss, consult references, use audio-visual aids such as models, pictures, specimens, organise field trips and do the experimentation carefully. Unnecessary data should also be discarded.

Formulation of Tentative Solutions or Hypothesis :

After collection of data, the students are asked to formulate some tentative hypothesis. A hypothesis is the probable solution to the problem in hand, which should be free from bias and self-inclination.

The students can suggest the hypothesis like:

Water will also boil:

(i) When flask is not inverted.

(ii) When water is not boiled but only warmed.

(iii) When hot water is poured over the inverted flask containing cold water.

(iv) When hot water is poured over the inverted flask containing boiled water.

(v) When cold water is poured over the flask containing cold water.

(vi) When cold water is poured over the inverted flask containing boiled water.

These are some of the hypothesis the students can suggest.

Selecting and Testing the Most Appropriate Hypothesis :

The students can select the most tenable hypothesis by rejecting others through experimentation and discussion.

The students have found out that water begins to boil again in an inverted flask when cold water is poured over it. In no other condition this was possible and so all other hypothesis were rejected.

Drawing Conclusions and Making Generalisations :

In this step, conclusions are drawn from the experiments. The results should support the expected solution. Experiments can be repeated to verify the consistency and correctness of the conclusion drawn and should be properly reported. When some conclusions are drawn from different sets of experimentation under similar situations, they may go for generalisation of their conclusion.

The generalisation can be made by arranging a set of experiments which also show the same conclusion already reached at.

The effect of varying pressure on boiling point of water can be found out by conducting experiments. From these conditions, one can generalise that pressure has a direct effect on the boiling point of water i.e. the increase in pressure raises the boiling point of water and vice-versa.

Application of Generalization to New Situations :

The student should apply generalization under new situations in his daily life minimising the gap between classroom situation and real life situation.

The student will apply the generalization that increase in pressure increases the boiling point of water and vice-versa, to explain the reason of – ‘why’ is it difficult to cook meat and pulses at higher altitudes.

Why do the pulses take lesser time for cooking in pressure cooker.

In this way the student will apply the generalization to other life situations.

Scientific Method- A Critical View :

A few points about the scientific method need to be emphasized.

Scientific method is not a prescribed pathing for making discoveries in science. Very rarely the method has remained a key to discovery in science. It is the attitude of inquiry, investigation and experimentation rather than following set steps of a particular method that leads to discoveries and advancement in science.

Sometimes a theory may suggest a new experiment at other times an experiment may suggest a new theoretical model. Scientists do not always go through all the steps of the method and not necessarily in the order we have outlines above. Investigation in science often involves repeated action on any one or all steps of the scientific method in any order.

Many important and path breaking discoveries in science have been made by trial and error, experimentation and accidental observation. The Rontgen and Fleming both of them did not set out the following scientific steps to discover X-rays and penicillin, but they had qualities of healthy intuition and perseverance which took them to their goals. Besides intuition informed guesswork, creativity, an eye for an unusual occurrence, all played a significant role in developing new theories, and there by progress in science.

The validity of a hypothesis depends solely on the experimental test and not on any other attributes. There is no authority in science that tells you what you can criticize and what you cannot criticize. Thus, science is highly objective discipline.

A scientific method with its linear steps makes us feel that science is a ‘closed box approach’ of thinking. However in practice science is more about thinking ‘out of the box’. There is tremendous scope for creativity in science. Many times in science an idea or a solution to a vexing problem appears to arise out of creativity and imagination. Ex- The stories of Archimedes, Newton, Robert Hook, Fleming and Madam Curie etc.

People keep floating all kinds of theories; often they narrow their arguments in scientific terms. This may create lot of confusion among them, but we should remember that a theory is valid only if it passes the test of experimentation, otherwise it may just be a matter of faith.

The scientific method imposes operational limitation on science. It does not help us to make aesthetic or value judgment. For example, frequency of the colour of paintings may be determined but there is no scientific method to label the paintings of two artists as great or not so great. Scientific method does not prove or refute the ideas such as existence of God and existence of life after death.

Following scientific method does not ensure that a discovery can be made. However, the skills learnt in making observation, analysis, hypothesis, prediction from a hypothesis and it’s testing by experimentation help us in developing scientific attitude.

All of us will benefit immensely if we imbibe the spirit of scientific method in our personal lives. The scientific method tells us to be honest in reporting our observations or experimental results, keep an open mind and to be ready to accept other points of view. If our own view is proved wrong.

Scientific method is a logical approach to problem-solving.

Related Articles:

• Essay on Environmental Science
• Content-cum-Methodology in Teaching: Concept, Nature, Need and Steps

Science , Meaning , Meaning of Science

• Anybody can ask a question
• Anybody can answer
• The best answers are voted up and rise to the top

Forum Categories

• Animal Kingdom
• Biodiversity
• Biological Classification
• Biology An Introduction 11
• Biology An Introduction
• Biology in Human Welfare 175
• Biomolecules
• Biotechnology 43
• Body Fluids and Circulation
• Breathing and Exchange of Gases
• Cell- Structure and Function
• Chemical Coordination
• Digestion and Absorption
• Diversity in the Living World 125
• Environmental Issues
• Excretory System
• Flowering Plants
• Food Production
• Genetics and Evolution 110
• Human Health and Diseases
• Human Physiology 242
• Human Reproduction
• Immune System
• Living World
• Locomotion and Movement
• Microbes in Human Welfare
• Mineral Nutrition
• Molecualr Basis of Inheritance
• Neural Coordination
• Organisms and Population
• Photosynthesis
• Plant Growth and Development
• Plant Kingdom
• Plant Physiology 261
• Principles and Processes
• Principles of Inheritance and Variation
• Reproduction 245
• Reproduction in Animals
• Reproduction in Flowering Plants
• Reproduction in Organisms
• Reproductive Health
• Respiration
• Structural Organisation in Animals
• Transport in Plants
• Trending 14

Privacy Overview

• Customer Reviews
• Extended Essays
• IB Internal Assessment
• Theory of Knowledge
• Literature Review
• Dissertations
• Essay Writing
• Research Writing
• Assignment Help
• Capstone Projects
• College Application
• Online Class

Science Essay Topics: 30+ Interesting Ideas for Your Paper

by  Antony W

June 9, 2024

The first step to write a science essay is to choose an area to explore. As such, you have to brainstorm for topics and determine which title would be the most suitable for your paper. Unfortunately, brainstorming isn’t as straightforward, not to mention it won’t give you better results quickly.

A good approach is to look at our list of pre-written ideas, as it makes it easy for you to find a topic that you can explore in your work. Of course, there is no limit to what you can explore. Depending on how many science papers you have to write, you may need a list of one or multiple topics to complete your assignments.

Best Science Essay Topics

From genetics and robotics to physics and biology, here’s a list of 50+ science essay topics that you may find interesting for your next assignment:

Science Information Technology Topics

Science is the reason technology exists. If you think about it, technologists apply scientific knowledge for practical purposes, for which it’s possible to create tools, systems, and solutions that address human needs. Here are some technology topics to consider:

• Analyze information technology’s influence on educational paradigms.
• Do a comprehensive examination of the advantages of cloud computing
• Environmental implications of information technology
• Delve into the ramifications of artificial intelligence
• Write about the contemporary perspectives on the role of robotics in technological advancements.
• You can evaluate the impact of information technology on healthcare systems.
• Analyze the interplay between science fiction and technological progression.
• Do a strategic examination of information technology’s impact on business operations.

Computer Science Essay Topics

Your computer science assignment should focus on exploring technology topics linked to computer science. The essay could be reflective, argumentative, or explanatory in kind. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Explore the impact of artificial intelligence on people’s lives
• How can we use algorithms to solve complex problems?
• What is machine learning, and how does it work?
• What does the future of computer science look like?
• Explore the ethical and legal issues surrounding AI and machine learning.
• Does big data have any implication on human lives?
• Examine the role of robotics in modern technology
• The role of computer science in modern society
• Understanding the basics of coding and software development

Free Features

Need help to complete and ace your paper? Order our writing service.  

Get all academic paper features for $65.77 FREE

Data Science Essay Topics

Data science focuses on combination of machine learning, advanced data analytics , specialized programming, and math to examine data. The data extracted and examined can be quite helpful in strategic planning and decision-making. Consider the following for your essay:

• The role of data science in modern society
• What is big data and how can you use it in data analysis today?
• Explore the implications of artificial intelligence on data science.
• The importance of data security and privacy
• Examine the role of machine learning in data science.
• What are the basics of coding and software development?
• What is the future of data science?
• The implications of big data on our lives
• Explore the ethical and legal issues surrounding data science.

Natural Science Topics

Your natural science essay should fall within the theme of the natural world around you. You will need to look at evidence, observation, and constructive imagination to develop reasonable scientific conclusions on how the world around you works. Here are some cool ideas to get you started:

• How do natural disasters affect ecosystems?
• What is the importance of biodiversity?
• Are the effects of pollution reversible?
• What are the different types of renewable energy sources?
• Is deforestation a major contributor to global warming?
• How can we protect marine life from climate change?
• What is the role of genetics and environment in human health?
• What has been the most significant medical discovery?
• How does climate change impact agriculture and food production?
• What are the consequences of overfishing?
• What is the role of technology in sustainable development?

Environmental Science Topics

Your professor expects to see an essay that focuses on the utilization of chemical, physical, and biological elements to explain how humans can deal with ecological issues. Consider the following topics:

• Assess the extent and consequences of human activities on ecosystems
• Propose effective measures to preserve and sustain our ecosystem
• What’s a more holistic approach to resource management and sustainability?
• Understanding, mitigating, and preventing detrimental effects on ecosystem health
• Can we rethink energy sources to alleviate environmental stress and resource depletion?
• Analyze patterns, causes, and projections of global environmental shifts.
• Explain the ecological implications of deforestation.
• Advocating water conservation as a pillar of sustainable development
• Examine the ecological footprint of overpopulation and talk about balancing population dynamics and environmental integrity.

Forensic Science Topics

Forensic science assignment focuses on the application of scientific methods to investigate issue related to law and justice. Investigators use this technique to search crime scenes , collect evidence, process evidence, break their research down, and issue logical outcomes a court can use to issue fair judgments. Lawmakers heavily rely on forensic science to determine whether something did or didn’t take place. 

• Explore the integration of forensic science within criminal inquiry and explain applications, techniques, and limitations.
• Write about the the crucial role of forensic science in crime resolution.
• Understanding the path to forensic science expertise: Education, training, and proficiency in investigative techniques
• You can do a comprehensive examination of methodologies and specializations.
• Explain how one can navigate the challenges in forensic science from technological advancements to legal and ethical complexities.
• Can we foresee the evolution and future innovations in forensic science?
• Ethical dilemmas in forensic science: Addressing moral and legal implications in investigative practices
• You can write an essay that analyzes the evolutionary impact of technology in forensic science.
• Societal implications of forensic science: Unpacking contributions, consequences, and public perception

Don’t wait for the last minute. Hire a writer today.

$4.99 Title page

$10.91 Formatting

$3.99 Outline

$21.99 Revisions

Get all these features for $65.77 FREE

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Natural Science Essays

The challenges of taking knowledge out of its original context, popular essay topics.

• American Dream
• Artificial Intelligence
• Black Lives Matter
• Bullying Essay
• Career Goals Essay
• Causes of the Civil War
• Child Abusing
• Civil Rights Movement
• Community Service
• Cultural Identity
• Cyber Bullying
• Death Penalty
• Depression Essay
• Domestic Violence
• Freedom of Speech
• Global Warming
• Gun Control
• Human Trafficking
• I Believe Essay
• Immigration
• Importance of Education
• Israel and Palestine Conflict
• Leadership Essay
• Legalizing Marijuanas
• Mental Health
• National Honor Society
• Police Brutality
• Pollution Essay
• Racism Essay
• Romeo and Juliet
• Same Sex Marriages
• Social Media
• The Great Gatsby
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• Time Management
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Violent Video Games
• What Makes You Unique
• Why I Want to Be a Nurse
• Send us an e-mail

Natural Sciences Resource Guide: APA

• Videos and Tutorials from your Librarian
• Topic/Research Question
• Search Strategies
• Evaluating Resources
• Citation Generators

APA Subjects

APA is most often used in the social sciences. Subject areas that are likely to use APA style include:

• Acct. &  Business
• Communication
• Exercise  & Sports Scie nce
• Political Science
• Social Work
• Sport Management

Note: If you aren't sure which citation style to use, check with your instructor.

Zotero Citation Management

Zotero is an application that collects, manages, and cites research sources. It's easy to use, connects with your web browser to download sources, and best of all it's FREE! See the Zotero Guide for more information.

EndNote Citation Management

EndNote is a software for organizing research and citations as you conduct your research and for generating citations as you write. You can obtain the basic version for free but the full version must be purchased, although student discounts are available.  EndNote Basic details.  

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

• Format a paper
• Create in-text citations
• Create a list of references

APA Style - Style and Grammar Guidelines

• Quick Reference Guide
• Sample Papers
• APA Style Blog

Citation Generator for APA

Call Number: Ref  808.066 P96a7

A copy is available in Funderburg Library for your use. If you need help locating this item, please ask at the main desk.

Basic Citation Examples

APA Citation uses a combination of in-text citation and a reference page at the end of the paper - Not footnotes.

In-text Citation  

If you use a direct quote from an article with quotation marks or rephrase information found in an article,  you must cite the source with an in-text citation . The source of the information must be cited at the end of the sentence containing the referenced information. An in-text citation is given by noting in parentheses the author's name and the page number of the book where the quote is found.

Example: The author writes, "The study of life is called biology" (Jones, 120).

Reference Page

APA Basic Electronic Citation Format Pattern: [Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Publication year]). [Title of article]. [Title of journal], [Volume number] ([Issue number]), [Page number starts]-[ends]. [Document Object Identifier]

Example: Jones, Kelly J. (2019). Careers in biology for today's college student.  Biology Professions Journal,  18(3). 120-130.

Introduction to APA Citation Style

• << Previous: Evaluating Resources
• Next: MLA >>
• Last Updated: May 30, 2024 1:15 PM
• URL: https://libguides.manchester.edu/naturalscienceguide20

New nature writing genre brings wild and tricky aspects of climate crisis to life

Lecturer in Literature, University of Essex

Disclosure statement

James Canton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Essex provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

View all partners

We live in an age of climate emergency and eco-anxiety. This is, after all, the Anthropocene – a geological period defined by the bootprint of humans on Earth. Bearing witness to our place in the world is critical now more than ever but writing about nature during an eco-crisis without implying utter despair is a challenging feat.

Since 2009, I have taught a Masters in wild writing that explores literature, landscape and the environment. Students are encouraged to find their own path – creative and critical – into the ways we as humans engage with the natural world, the places we inhabit and the creatures we share the Earth with. Field trips – the outdoor classroom – are a central part of the practice of study. We are of nature, we remind ourselves – never separate, never apart, not even in the square construct of the seminar room. To exist as a human is to be in nature. Nature is not somewhere we step in and out of. That is a vital truth.

Since that course first launched, writing about nature has evolved. In 2008, journalist Jason Cowley acknowledged that the genre of nature writing was undergoing a transformation. In a special issue of the literary magazine, Granta, dedicated to new nature writing, he explained that “the best new nature writing is an experiment in forms: the field report, the essay, the memoir, the travelogue”.

Going to Ground: An anthology of nature and place, edited by nature writer Jon Woolcott, is a fine collection of just such writing. Genuinely engaging, the collective of more than 30 new and established writers offer bright, fresh voices on our sense of place, our place in nature.

The pieces gathered here – both prose and poetry – are all tales of the Anthropocene. They tell of scarred lands, sacred lands. They saw light first in the previous decade as offerings for The Clearing – an online magazine that helped promote fresh perspectives on nature writing, including portraits of the post-industrial alongside political and reflective musings on our modern landscapes.

These are visions first seen in earlier works such as Richard Mabey’s The Unofficial Countryside (published in 1973), which, according to legendary landscape writer and wanderer Iain Sinclair , was “the unacknowledged pivot between the new nature writers and those others, of a grungier dispensation, who are randomly (and misleadingly) herded together as ‘psychogeographers’”. Sinclair should know – being one of the best known of that herd.

The contributions to Going to Ground read as a series of stepping stones – fitting for an anthology largely framed around the archipelago of our isles. Writer Graham Mort takes us to a “landscape draining of its purpose”, tracing generations of elders through the moor towns of North Yorkshire – Settle, Hawes, Muker – seeing the natural in the industrial. He writes poetically about “dippers on the beck/ limestone crags dotted with juniper”.

Like so many of these writings, a mosaic of memories emerges that is patched together from the land.

J.C. Niala takes us beyond Britain to Kenya where ancient human cave dwellers lived “an intricate dance with the elephants” that came to those dark spaces at night to mine salt with their tusks. The magic in that vision helps Niala clear the ghost of COVID haunting her journey.

Two of the greats of the new nature writing movement are present here, too. Kathleen Jamie’s Findings (2005) stepped between the quotidian world of domesticity, of laundry and kids’ school runs and soaring moments of enchantment in nature. Here, in Going to Ground, Jamie guides us to the value of paying heed, attending, noticing the natural world. “How do we lose the world?” she questions. “Little by little.”

Instead of ignoring the world around us, we can “seriously notice” – step outside and “smell autumn in the wind”. By doing so, we move beyond being passive consumers in “the simplest act of resistance and renewal”. Be engaged, be present, she urges.

In a chapter titled Bird Island, writer and birder Tim Dee watches gannets preparing to launch from “the edge of their earthly domain, the grit-and-guano trampled runway to the sky”. This image works well as a metaphor for the efforts of this fine band of nature writers gathered in this delightful anthology – each one seeking to step beyond exhausted stamping grounds, sensing the need for fresh perspectives on the landscapes of the Anthropocene.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like? Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 30,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

• Nature writing
• Climate crisis
• Keep me on trend

Communications and Change Manager – Research Strategy

Head of School: Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences

Educational Designer

Organizational Behaviour – Assistant / Associate Professor (Tenure-Track)

Apply for State Library of Queensland's next round of research opportunities

Home / Essay Samples / Science

Scientific Essay Examples

Science is the systematic investigation of the surrounding world through observation and experiments and the process of formulating judgments and hypotheses based on obtained evidence. Given that science can be directed at virtually any question that humans find relevant, so can be an essay on science – starting from questions in natural sciences and ending with social sciences.

Science is always relevant because it is the practice through which virtually any new knowledge is gained and any innovation is achieved. Another reason for its relevance is because nowadays, the scientific consensus is often ignored by many people and even national authorities. Below you can find several scientific essay examples to review – note the topics, structure, information delivery style, language.

Gmo: Balancing Benefits and Drawbacks

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been a topic of intense debate and scrutiny for decades. This argumentative essay aims to shed light on the benefits of GMOs, arguing that their positive impact on agriculture, food security, and sustainability outweigh the drawbacks. While concerns about safety...

Spanish Slang and Its Role in Contemporary Communication

Language is a living, evolving entity, and slang is one of its most dynamic facets. In the Spanish-speaking world, slang, or "jerga" as it's known, adds vibrancy, humor, and cultural context to communication. Spanish slang is a rich tapestry of expressions that reflect the diversity...

Lost Cities and Lost Treasure

The allure of lost cities and lost treasure has captured human imagination for centuries. These mysteries from the past, hidden beneath layers of time and nature, evoke a sense of adventure, curiosity, and the possibility of uncovering untold stories and riches. From the legendary city...

The Rocking-horse Winner: Unveiling Hidden Desires

D.H. Lawrence's short story "The Rocking-Horse Winner" delves into the complexities of human desires and the destructive power of materialism. This essay analyzes the themes of luck, greed, and the pursuit of wealth, while also examining the characters' emotional turmoil and the haunting consequences of...

The Practical Role of Math in Everyday Life

Understanding how math is used in everyday life unveils the hidden threads that intricately connect mathematics to our daily experiences. This essay delves into the practical applications of math in various facets of our lives, shedding light on how this fundamental discipline influences our decisions,...

Conserving Energy: a Path to Sustainability

Energy conservation is not merely a concept—it's a responsibility that each individual and society bears to ensure the sustainable future of our planet. With growing concerns about climate change and resource depletion, conserving energy has become a crucial step toward minimizing our ecological footprint. In...

Energy Crisis: Illuminating Perspectives

"Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability." This quote by Ban Ki-moon underscores the pivotal role of energy in shaping the modern world. However, as global demands increase and resources dwindle, an energy crisis looms on the horizon....

Exploring "My Side of the Mountain": a Journey into Wilderness and Self-discovery

"My Side of the Mountain," written by Jean Craighead George, is a captivating novel that takes readers on a unique journey of self-discovery through the eyes of a young protagonist. In this essay, we will delve into the world of "My Side of the Mountain,"...

Earthquakes: Causes, Effects, and Implications

Earthquakes, natural phenomena that shake the very ground we stand on, have captured human fascination and fear for centuries. These sudden and often devastating events are the result of intricate geological processes that have both immediate and far-reaching effects. In this essay, we will delve...

A World Without Mathematics: Imagining the Unthinkable

Mathematics is the language of logic, order, and structure that underpins our world. It is a fundamental tool for understanding the universe, solving problems, and advancing technology. Imagine, for a moment, a world without mathematics — a world devoid of equations, calculations, and mathematical concepts....

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

• Agriculture
• Anthropology
• Political Science
• Scientific Method
• Genetic Engineering
• Solar Eclipse
• Space Exploration
• Photosynthesis
• Microbiology
• Bilingualism
• Albert Einstein
• Renewable Energy
• Isaac Newton
• Thomas Edison
• Engineering
• Intelligent Machines
• Biotechnology
• Hermit Crab
• Wildlife Conservation
• Earth Science
• Archaeology
• Criminology
• Criminology Theories
• Ethnography
• Kinesiology
• Research Methods
• Science and Culture
• Science Vs. Religion
• Social Studies

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->