A scientist is a person who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence to make hypotheses and test them, to gain and share understanding and knowledge.
There are many different areas of focus for scientists, including:
- Natural sciences: This includes the study of the physical world, including physics, chemistry, biology, and geology.
- Social sciences: This includes the study of human behavior and society, including economics, psychology, sociology, and political science.
- Formal sciences: This includes the study of abstract systems, such as mathematics, logic, and computer science.
Within each of these broad areas, there are many different subfields. For example, within the natural sciences, there are physicists, chemists, biologists, and geologists. Within the social sciences, there are economists, psychologists, sociologists, and political scientists. And within the formal sciences, there are mathematicians, logicians, and computer scientists.
Scientists can work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutes, government agencies, and private industry. They may conduct research, teach, develop new products or technologies, or provide consulting services.
Here are some examples of different types of scientists:
- Astronomers: Study the stars, planets, and other objects in space.
- Biologists: Study living things, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution.
- Chemists: Study the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.
- Computer scientists: Study the design and development of computer software and hardware.
- Economists: Study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
- Engineers: Apply scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and systems.
- Geologists: Study the Earth's structure, composition, history, and processes.
- Mathematicians: Study numbers, shapes, patterns, and relationships.
- Physicists: Study the fundamental laws and forces of nature.
- Psychologists: Study the human mind and behavior.
- Sociologists: Study human society and social behavior.
Scientists play an important role in society. They help us to understand the world around us and to develop new technologies that improve our lives. They also help us to solve problems.