Natural Sciences
The study of naturally occurring objects or phenomena
Natural science is one of the four disciplines that house many fields in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Natural science fields study the science of naturally occurring objects or phenomena and include the physical sciences (chemistry and physics), earth sciences (earth and environmental science), the life sciences (biological sciences), and others.
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics, which may be grouped with the natural sciences, may be referred to as mathematical science (more below!) and/or formal science. Formal sciences study and use formal systems to generate knowledge. Mathematics is also described as the language of the sciences since mathematics is used as a tool across the sciences for research purposes.
Learn more about natural science research and the unique ways each field contributes to our understanding of the surrounding world.
Natural Science Research Characteristics
Natural science research generally uses quantitative methods to collect, organize, and analyze data.
Quantitative research is a general category for describing research studies that collect numeric data, or the data can be converted into numbers and measured. Quantitative research is used in natural science research as well as social science research; however, the variables that make up the data or the data forms may look different and reflect distinct areas of research.
In quantitative studies, the researcher usually begins with a hypothesis and aims to explore a relationship among measured variables because researchers believe there is an objective social reality that may be studied. This may include the researchers attempting to explain a relationship, predict a relationship, or control a relationship among the studied variables. By the end of the research, the researcher can confirm or reject the hypothesis they set out to test.
Since natural science research generally involves testing or confirming a hypothesis, researchers often use deductive reasoning to organize and make sense of the data. In deductive reasoning, the goal is to use new data to test theoretical concepts and patterns. As a result, deductive research is known as theory-testing research because the findings may support, challenge, or improve the theory used in the study.
Additionally, this is why scholars suggest that knowledge is discovered or observed in quantitative natural science research.
Examples of natural science research may include experimental studies in lab-controlled settings.
Fields of Study
Below are the fields in LAS that belong to the Natural Sciences. Select fields of interest to learn more and review the subfields of study. As you explore research areas, make note of themes or topics of interest.
Description
What is Biological Science?
According to the LAS Biological Science Department, Biological Science is “the study of life in all its forms.”
What do Biological Scientists study?
In Biological Sciences, there are different branches of study known as subfields, which biologists specialize in and research. Examples include Conservation, Restoration, Environmental Health, and Invasive Species; Ecology and Evolution Biology; Gene Expression and Regulation; Genetics and Genomics; Landscape and Macroscale Ecology; Mathematical Modelling and Computational Biology; Microbiology; Neurobiology; Plant Sciences; Systems Physiology; Population and Community Ecology; and Biology Education Research.
Resources
- LAS Biological Science: Visit the LAS Biological Science Department website to read more about Biological Science and the subfields and affiliated faculty.
- American Institute of Biological Sciences: Visit the American Institute of Biological Sciences, a professional membership group for biologists, to read how they define biology and explore other member organizations that specialize in the subfields.
Areas of Study
What is Chemistry?
According to the American Chemical Society, “Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it can undergo. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Understanding the basic properties of matter and learning how to predict and explain how they change when they react to form new substances is what chemistry and chemists are all about.”
What do Chemists study?
In Chemistry, there are different branches of study known as subfields, which chemists specialize in and research. Examples include Bioanalytical and Biophysical Chemistry; Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery; Catalysis; Chemical Education Research; Energy Science; Materials and Nanoscience; Physical Chemistry; and Synthetic.
Resources
- LAS Chemistry: Visit LAS Chemistry Department website to read more about chemistry and the subfields and affiliated faculty.
- American Chemical Society: Visit the American Chemical Society, a professional membership group for chemists, to read how they define chemistry and for more information on the subfields. subfields
Research Areas
What is Physics?
According to the LAS Physics Department, “the fundamental goal of the science of physics is to develop a basic and comprehensive understanding and description of all forms of matter and energy. This goal is pursued through experimental and theoretical investigations, with experimental results pointing the way toward possible new theories and tentative theories suggesting new experiments. Physics occupies a middle ground between mathematics and engineering, using the techniques of the former and providing new ideas and materials (structures and properties) to the latter.”
What do Physicists study?
In Physics, there are different branches of study known as subfields, which physicists may specialize in and research. Examples include Applied Laser; Biological and Soft Matter; Condensed Matter; Materials Physics; Nuclear Physics; Particle Physics; and Renewable Energy.
Resources
- LAS Physics: Visit the LAS Physics Department to read more about physics and the subfields and affiliated faculty.
- American Physics Society: Visit the American Physics Society, a professional membership group for physicists, to read more about physics and the subfields.
earth and environmental science
What is Earth and Environmental Sciences?
According to the LAS Earth and Environmental Sciences Departments, Earth and Environmental Sciences study “the dynamic processes that modify our environment, including those influenced by human activity, and that shape the earth and other planetary bodies. It “investigate[s] processes in the atmosphere, on Earth, and on other planetary bodies.”
What do Earth and Environmental Scientists study?
In Earth and Environmental Sciences, there are different branches of study known as subfields, which earth and environmental scientists specialize in and research. Examples include Climate and Water Science; Earth and Planetary Geophysics; Geobiology and Astrobiology; Geochemistry and Human Health; and Urban Environments.
Resources
- LAS Earth and Environmental Sciences: Visit the LAS Earth and Environmental Sciences Department website to read more about earth and environmental sciences and the subfields and affiliated faculty.
- American Geophysical Union: Visit the American Geophysical Union, a professional membership group for earth and space scientists, to read how they define earth and space science and the subfields.
- Geological Society of America: Visit the Geological Society of America, a professional membership group for geoscientists, to read how they define geoscience and the subfields.
- Society for Science: Visit the Society for Science, a professional membership group sponsored by National Geographic, to read how they define earth and environmental science and the subfields.
math
What is Mathematics?
According to the LAS Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, “Mathematics is the language of the sciences and of all fields where patterns and systematic processes need to be analyzed. The study of the various mathematical sciences involves learning ideas and techniques essential for the natural and social sciences and is increasingly important in all areas of a technological society.”
What do Mathematicians study?
In Mathematics, there are different fields of study known as subfields, which mathematicians may specialize in and research. Examples include Algebraic Geometry; Geometry; Topology and Dynamics; Logic (including Set Theory and Model Theory); Number Theory; Analysis and Partial Differential Equations; Theoretical Computer Science; Statistics and Mathematics Education; Pure Mathematics; Applied Mathematics; Mathematical Computer Science; Statistics; Computational Mathematics; Algebra; Combinatorics; Probability; Ergodic Theory; Discrete Math; Numerical Analysis; Machine Learning; and Optimization.
Resources
- LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science: Visit the LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department to read more about mathematics and faculty research interests.
- American Mathematical Society: Visit the American Mathematical Society, a professional membership organization for mathematicians, to read more about mathematics, what mathematicians do, and access journals focused on subfields.
stats
What is Statistics?
According to the American Statistical Association, “Statistics is a science. It involves asking questions about the world and finding answers to them in a scientific way. If you are curious about how things work, statistics is a career that will keep your curiosity piqued and your brain engaged. Statistics is not just a collection of numbers or formulas. It’s not just lines, bars or points on a graph. It’s not just computing. Statistics is so much more. It’s an exciting—even fun—way of looking at the world and gaining insights through a scientific approach that rewards creative thinking.”
What do Statisticians study?
In Statistics, there are different branches of study known as subfields, that statistician specialize in and research. Examples include the areas of big data analysis, bioinformatics, design of experiment, empirical likelihood, financial mathematics, functional data analysis, high dimensional statistical inference, machine Learning, nonparametetric and semiparametric statistics, stochastic analysis, and many more.
According to the American Statistical Society, statisticians also study and contribute to health care, the economy, national security, and the environment.
Resources
- LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science: Visit the LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department website to read more about statistics.
- American Statistical Association: Visit the American Statistical Association, a professional membership group for statisticians, to read more about how they define statistics, what statisticians do, and areas of study.
math
What is Mathematical Computer Science?
According to the LAS Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics Department, Mathematical Computer Science applies mathematics in computing or computer related fields.
What do Mathematical Computer Scientists study?
In Mathematical Computer Science, there are different branches of study known as subfields, which mathematical computer scientists specialize in and research. Examples include Theoretical Computer Science; Discrete Math; Combinatorics; Numerical Analysis; Machine Learning; and Optimization.
Resources
- LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science: Visit the LAS Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department to read more about mathematical computer science and faculty research interests.
- American Mathematical Society: Visit the American Mathematical Society, a professional membership organization for mathematicians, to read more about mathematical computer science.