Think about a favorite hobby or activity of yours--maybe
drama, tennis, building and fixing things, or exploring the outdoors. Whatever activity you do, chances are that you've had to develop skills to do that activity well. For example, to
play a sport well, you need a set of skills that may include
knowing how to move your body in a certain way, how hard to throw a
ball, or how to pace yourself when
you run long distances. You develop these skills through practice. The work of scientists also involves a necessary set of skills, and the skills of science can also be developed through practice. Some of the skills that scientists rely on include:
- asking scientific questions
- making observations about the natural world
- conducting experiments
- making measurements
- using mathematics to describe natural events and processes
- organizing data
- communicating their ideas and findings to others through writing and/or speech
When
scientists uses these skills to develop new knowledge, they are
participating in the process of scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry
is the collection of ways whereby scientists study the world and propose
explanations based on evidence. It is a process of active investigation
and exploration that involves both logical and creative thinking.
Scientific inquiry is driven by curiosity when you as a scientist
observe something around you and begin to wonder "why" or "how" it works
the way it does. It may also be driven by societal needs, such as the need to reduce our dependence on oil and gas. Asking a question such as "How does it work?" is a
sign of your scientific curiosity. The question is the first step in an
exploration to find the answer. The next steps will include choosing
procedures to answer that question and then carrying through with a plan
to gather and record data.
