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The Scientific Community The strongly held traditions of science,

including its commitment to peer review and
publication, serve to keep the vast majority of
scientists well within the bounds of ethical
The direction of scientific research is affected professional behaviour. Deliberate deceit is rare
by informal influences within the culture of and likely to be exposed sooner or later by the
science itself, such as prevailing opinion on scientific enterprise itself. When violations of
which questions are most interesting or which these scientific ethical traditions are discovered,
methods of investigation are most likely to be they are strongly condemned by the scientific
fruitful. Elaborate processes involving scientists community, and the violators then have
themselves have been developed to decide difficulty regaining the respect of other
which research proposals receive funding, and scientists.
committees of scientists regularly review Science and decision making
progress in various disciplines to recommend
general priorities for funding.
Science and decision making
Science disciplines differ from
one another in what is studied,
techniques used, and The dissemination of
outcomes sought, but they scientific information is
share a common purpose and crucial to its progress. Some
philosophy, and all are part of Because science
scientists present their
the same scientific enterprise. is a human
findings and theories in
Although each discipline activity, what is
papers that are delivered at
provides a conceptual Funding influences valued in society
meetings or published in
structure for organising and the direction of influences what is The early Egyptian, Greek, scientific journals. Those
pursuing knowledge, many science by virtue of valued in science. Chinese, Hindu, and papers enable scientists to
problems are studied by the decisions that Science and Arabic cultures are inform others about their
scientists using information are made on which decision making responsible for many work, to expose their ideas
and skills from many research to support. scientific and mathematical to criticism by other
disciplines. Disciplines do not Research funding ideas and technological scientists, and, of course, to
have fixed boundaries, and it comes from various inventions. Modern stay abreast of scientific
happens that new scientific federal government Scientists’ nationality, science is based on developments around the
disciplines are being formed agencies, industry, sex, ethnic origin, age, traditions of thought that world.
where existing ones meet and and private political convictions, and came together in Europe Science and decision
that some sub disciplines spin foundations. so on may incline them about 500 years ago. making
off to become new disciplines to look for or emphasize People from all cultures
in their own right. one or another kind of now contribute to that
evidence or tradition.
interpretation.
Science & Society

Scientists’ personal interests and No matter who does

viewpoints can influence the science and
questions they investigate. mathematics or invents
Science and decision making things, or when or
where they do it, the
knowledge and
technology that result
Until recently, women and Important contributions can eventually become
Scientists are racial minorities, because of to the advancement of available to everyone in
employed by colleges restrictions on their education science, maths, and the world.
and universities, and employment opportunities, technology have been Accurate record
business and industry, were essentially left out of made by different kinds keeping, openness,
hospitals, and many much of the formal work of the of people, in different and replication are
government agencies. science establishment; the cultures, at different essential for main -
Their places of work remarkable few who overcame times. taining an invest-
include offices, those obstacles were even Work of science igator’s credibility
classrooms, then likely to have their work with other scientists
disregarded by the science Scientists are linked to and society.
laboratories, farms,
Scientists differ establishment. other scientists Work of science
factories and natural
greatly in what Science & Society worldwide both Investigations
field settings ranging
phenomena they personally and through
from space to the
study and how they international scientific
ocean floor.
go about their work. organisations.
Work of science
Work of science

Clear communication is an
essential part of doing science.
Doing science involves It enables scientists to inform
many different kinds of others about their work, expose
Human beings work and engages men their ideas to criticism by other
have different and women of all ages Science is an adventure scientists, and stay informed
interests, and backgrounds. that people everywhere about scientific discoveries
motivations, skills Work of science can take part in, as they around the world.
and talents. have for many centuries. Doing science
Investigations

Describing things as accurately as

possible is important in science
In doing science, it is often because it enables people to
helpful to work with a team and compare their observations with
Everybody can do to share findings with others. All those of others.
science and invent team members should reach Doing science
things and ideas. their own individual conclusions,
however, about what the
findings mean.
employment & scientific
disciplines funding people communication

Science Continuum P-10 Reproduced with the permission of the AAAS © 2001