• Question: Why do we need science in our lives

    Asked by mateuszjaniga to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Vijay, Will on 15 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Will Reynolds

      Will Reynolds answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      Hi mateuszjaniga. Science gives us lots of important information about the world we live in and how things work. Biology deals with how life works: our bodies, plants and animals. It helps us stay healthy, fight disease and grow enough food for the growing population. Chemistry gives us all the materials and products we use everyday from shower gel, toothpaste and cleaning products to plastic, petrol, ink, medicines and lots more. Physics explains how the world works, why gravity keeps us on the ground and how the sun and moon give us day and night and different seasons. The application of physics helps us design roads, buildings, cars, aeroplanes and produce enough energy to cook food, keep us warm and let us travel whenever and wherever we like. There are so many more things science gives us too and lots of different subjects, not just the main three that I have listed. Thanks for your question.

    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      Great question – I’d say we can’t escape science – its happening all around us all the time. Why do we need to make an effort to understand it – well science is really important for our health, the econamy, national security, communication, transport etc. Plus I think its a good thing to understand the world as it help prevent damage to it due to ignorance.

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 17 Jun 2012:

      Hi mateuszjaniga!
      I agree with everything said so far – and will add that science is what is happening all around us, all the time, from before we are born to well after we die. The more we know and understand about it, the less we are likely to make stupid mistakes, or believe unscientific stories invented by people who want to fool us. It’s really important to be clued up about science and know what’s real and what isn’t!

      Here’s a leaflet that’s written by a charity called “sense about science” that talks about how important is to know the facts and the science when you choose which medicine to take when ill. Far more information than you want, but it gives you an idea of one reason why we need science!
      http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/files/resources/11/SAS002_NTL_HR.pdf
      Why do you think we need science?

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