Branches of Science

Study Notes

Natural Sciences:
- Biology: study of living organisms and their interactions
- Chemistry: study of matter, its composition, and reactions
- Physics: study of energy, matter, and the fundamental laws of the universe
Formal Sciences:
- Mathematics: study of numbers, quantities, and shapes
- Logic: study of reasoning and argumentation
Applied Sciences:
- Engineering: application of scientific knowledge to design and build structures, machines, and systems
- Medicine: application of scientific knowledge to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases

Observation: making detailed observations of phenomena
Hypothesis: forming a tentative explanation for the observed phenomenon
Experimentation: testing the hypothesis through controlled experiments
Data Analysis: analyzing data collected during experimentation
Conclusion: drawing conclusions based on the data analysis
Verification: verifying the results through repeated experimentation and peer review

Objectivity: scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence and unbiased observation
Empiricism: scientific knowledge is derived from sense experience and observation
Rationalism: scientific knowledge is derived from reason and logical deduction
** Parsimony**: scientific explanations should be simple and require the fewest assumptions possible
Falsifiability: scientific theories should be open to revision or rejection based on new evidence

Applications: science has numerous practical applications in fields such as technology, medicine, and environment
Policy: scientific knowledge informs policy decisions on issues such as climate change, public health, and resource management
Ethics: scientific research raises ethical concerns such as responsible conduct, animal testing, and genetic engineering
Communication: scientists communicate their findings to the public and other scientists through publications and presentations

Natural Sciences encompasses the study of living organisms (Biology), matter and its composition (Chemistry), and energy and the fundamental laws of the universe (Physics)
Formal Sciences include the study of numbers, quantities, and shapes (Mathematics) and reasoning and argumentation (Logic)
Applied Sciences involve the application of scientific knowledge to design and build structures, machines, and systems (Engineering) and diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases (Medicine)

Observation involves making detailed observations of phenomena
Hypothesis formation involves creating a tentative explanation for the observed phenomenon
Experimentation involves testing the hypothesis through controlled experiments
Data Analysis involves analyzing data collected during experimentation
Conclusion involves drawing conclusions based on the data analysis
Verification involves verifying the results through repeated experimentation and peer review

Objectivity principle states that scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence and unbiased observation
Empiricism principle states that scientific knowledge is derived from sense experience and observation
Rationalism principle states that scientific knowledge is derived from reason and logical deduction
Parsimony principle states that scientific explanations should be simple and require the fewest assumptions possible
Falsifiability principle states that scientific theories should be open to revision or rejection based on new evidence

Science has numerous practical Applications in fields such as technology, medicine, and environment
Scientific knowledge informs Policy decisions on issues such as climate change, public health, and resource management
Scientific research raises Ethical concerns such as responsible conduct, animal testing, and genetic engineering
Effective Communication of scientific findings is crucial for informing the public and other scientists through publications and presentations