Accounts Quote by Dennis Flanagan
“Science is what scientists do, not what nonscientists think they do or ought to be doing. Wetenschap is wat wetenschappers doen.”
About This Quote
Science is a disciplined practice carried out by experts, not a layperson’s interpretation of what it should be.
In simple terms: Science is expert activity, not public perception.
Key Takeaway
Science is defined by practitioners, not outsiders.
Themes
epistemology
expertise
misconception
public understanding
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
statement
observation
When to use this quote
- explaining science to non‑experts
- debating science policy
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
scientific method
knowledge production
Practical Applications
- science communication
- public outreach
Questions to Reflect On
- How does expertise shape what counts as science?
- What are the risks of conflating public opinion with scientific practice?
![“Science is what scientists do, not what nonscientists think they do or ought to be doing. Wetenschap is wat wetenschappers doen. [Flanagan's motto as magazine editor for selecting content to put in Scientific American.]” quote by Dennis Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c7f/dennis-flanagan-49623_science_science-is-what-scientists-do-not-what-n_1130540.jpg)
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
![“Although such research [into the paranormal] has yet to produce anything in the way of a repeatable controlled experiment, its practitioners argue that its revolutionary potentialities justify its continuation. My own feeling is that after a century of total failure it has become a bloody bore.” quote by Dennis Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/841/dennis-flanagan-49623_arguing_although-such-research-into-the-paranorm_351324.jpg)
