What about the "E" word?
That's all I want to add. It is a regular complaint of mine that everyone
forgets the "Engineering" and mistakenly believes that it is the same as
technology.
As others have said, they are not synonymous.
With such illustrious company here, I would not dream of adding a definition
of engineering beyond saying that it goes far beyond technology.
MK
_______________________________
Michael Kenward OBE
Have words will travel
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Francisco Diego
Sent: 08 October 2010 08:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Some possible definitions?
Dear all,
Perhaps these possible definitions could help?
science - the best method we have developed to explore, discover and
understand thatever is there or happens without human intervention, i.e.
the natural world, the universe. Embraces physics, biology, chemistry,
and their combinations geology, astrobiology, cosmology, etc. Ideally
curiosity driven.
technology - applied science, the manipulation, application of those
discoveries for our benefit (or the benefit of a few in many cases!).
Embraces engineering (mechanical electric, civil, etc), medicine, and even
the impact of all these on our nearby, vital environment. Sadly, often
driven by economic interests.
Yes, we also need technology to do science and science feeds technology,
but they are by principle, different.
social sciences should be called social studies instead.
Mathematics is a tool applied to virtually all disciplines, science,
technology, social studies, arts...
This is relevant for many aspects of public engagement (big confusion
between science and technology), but mainly for the way all this is
funded. The more letters you put in an acronym, the more diluted are the
resources for each of them.
Scientist in the USA have fighted to keep the NSF without T's or E's. We
did have an SRC ages ago.
best regards
francisco
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The Mind of the Universe lectures
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