that's not what science is.
sci⋅ence [sahy-uhns] Show IPA
1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.
2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
3. any of the branches of natural or physical science.
4. systematized knowledge in general.
5. knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.
6. a particular branch of knowledge.
7. skill, esp. reflecting a precise application of facts or principles; proficiency.
Engineering is very much a branch of knowledge dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws (usually physical laws).
I am referring to the ACTION of Engineering something as opposed to what appears in textbook when studying how to become and Engineer.
The ACT of developing software is considered "engineering" by some people.
Engineering definitely isn't any of the first 5 of those ...
6 is so vague it could apply to anything
now dealing with #7...
you might hear this during informal speaking ...
he has Starcraft down to a "science".
that is a colloquialism...
Another way to understand the difference between "science" and "engineering" is to examine the activities of your typical every day scientist and your typical every day engineer.
Go to a university and ask a few guys who have PHDs in Physics what is different about their primary focus versus that of say a Mechanical Engineer (with or without a PHD)
Generally speaking when you use the term "scientist" this is a person who discovers new facts.
"Engineer"s may use some of hte new facts a "scientist" discovers, but an engineers primary responsibility does not encompass the scientific discovery process.
Not only does "Science" != "Engineering", also "Scientist" != "Engineer"
Edited by JimRaynor, 24 May 2009 - 06:16 AM.