Value of the Physical Sciences and Social Sciences

Week 7: The Value of the Physical Sciences and the Social Sciences Last week we discussed the value of the Georgia Southern Planetarium Humanities and the Arts. This week we are going to take a look at the value of both physical and social sciences. If you were asked to name a science, probably the first things to come to mind would be things like biology or chemistry. These sciences (along with physics, astronomy, geology, biochemistry, etc.) are what we often refer to as "hard sciences" not because of their difficulty to study, but because they focus on the natural or physical world. Social sciences on the other hand focus on behaviors and relationships. Sometimes referred to as "soft sciences", social sciences deal with intangibles where it is difficult if not impossible to isolate all the variables that can influence an outcome. Areas of study include psychology, sociology, anthropology (some aspects), human geography, economics, etc. Not Either/Or but Both/And There is a great deal of emphasis placed on the study of STEM majors within our education system, and it is not difficult to see why. These fields of study have made numerous contributions to the advancement of everything from healthcare to transportation to product manufacturing. Yet, it is our social scientists who help business and industries understand human behaviors and motivations. In her article, Sharon Witherspoon discusses how businesses such as Cisco and WSP place value on social scientists and their contributions to STEM fields. Social scientists are able to help business understand consumer behavior, analyze risks, participate in strategic planning, and develop communication and marketing plans. Consider how a linguist might help improve end-user experience for a voice recognition technology. Or how economists help predict market behaviors. If we look at recent events, we can see even more examples of how hard and social sciences are linked. Throughout the global pandemic, researchers and scientists have worked furiously to develop healthcare protocols, treatments, and preventions for the spread of COVID-19. Simultaneously, social scientists have been researching the effects of social isolation, motivation factors for mask wearing or receiving vaccines, possible long-term effects on education and economy, etc. As sociologist Lori Peek points out, "medical research matters...most of all that which seeks to produce a vaccine. But who will trust the science and agree to take that eventual vaccine, under what conditions? That, among other areas, is where social scientists can help." Scientific Literacy Georgia Southern's core curriculum requires all students to complete 11 credit hours of coursework in the sciences. This reflects an especially strong commitment to science education among all majors. As Neil deGrasse Tyson argues, scientists are not the only people who benefit from science education. Scientific literacy is crucial not only for a variety of careers but also for civic participation in a world in which science often informs democratic policy. Task List Please complete the following tasks in this module: 1. Read Sharon Witherspoon's "Social Science, STEM and Career Skills: Not 'Either/Or' But 'Both/And'." 2. Read Colleen Flaherty's "Social Scientists on COVID-19." 3. Watch: Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Scientific Literacy" (3 minutes) 4. Complete the Value of Hard Sciences & Social Sciences Quiz