The Importance of Science: A Complete Guide

Let’s be honest: science is not exactly everyone’s favorite subject.

To be more direct, thousands of young people *hate* science.

But did you know the thinking skills developed in every science class are the same skills needed to spot a scam? Resolve conflict? Cook dinner without burning it, and about a million other important tasks?

No matter how badly organic chemistry class makes you want to rip your hair out, the skills taught in fields of science are worth the frustration. Seriously.

Keep reading to see the importance of science in day-to-day life.

Science Education Helps Us Solve Everyday Problems

Chemistry, biology, physics—all science fields need critical thinking. Critical thinking is essential for staying safe and solving problems in everyday life. The National Science Teaching Association says science learning is so essential it should start in Kindergarten.

The scientific method involves:

This habit helps a person explore the world in an open-minded way. To be successful in science, a student must accept that their first assumption may not be the correct answer. In some cases, there may not be a conclusive “right” answer at all!

Science Saves Lives

Most science researchers won’t star in the next episode of Grey’s Anatomy. That’s probably a good thing! The science we do behind a desk, with no cameras, gives us important breakthroughs that change the way every ER nurse in every hospital does their job.

Doctors not featured on TV, like Dr. Kenneth Chien, publish studies. Studies help hospitals make important policy updates and change the way medicines are made. Researchers challenge old assumptions. They test new theories, and attempt to answer questions others before them may have thought impossible to answer.

Teaching Science Helps Communities Address Social Issues

Communities will usually turn to science to get clear about confusing and emotionally complex social issues. (Even before a certain viral phenomenon stopped the world in 2020!)

For example, teachers and politicians have been using science to debunk racist assumptions and myths for decades. Not only are racist beliefs about melanin content scientifically false, but racist arguments themselves are often explained using fallacies and faulty logic. Both of these faults in racist belief systems are easy to pick apart if we understand critical thinking skills and respect scientific facts.

Learn More About The Importance of Science

Sure, it’s more appealing in the short term to play with friends, watch a movie, or do anything other than comb through a wordy science textbook.

However, the critical thinking skills a person learns from that science textbook might help them make new decisions that relieve stress better than watching a movie ever could. Science education saves lives—not just when we call 911, but in quiet moments of research as well. Teaching science can even help us confront heated social issues in a mature, bipartisan way.

The importance of science can’t be understated.

To learn more about the latest breakthroughs in science that may interest you, keep reading more of our articles.

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