Asking Quote by Paul Nurse
“How scientists go about their job: and it's a process, it's a question of asking questions, respecting observation, respecting experiment, having tentative explanations and then testing them… There is a problem sometimes with how we teach science at schools. Because we sometimes teach it as if it has been chiseled in stone.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview with Paul Nurse, 2015
Science is a methodical process of questioning, observing, experimenting, forming tentative ideas, and testing them, not a fixed set of facts.
In simple terms: Science is about asking questions and testing ideas.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity and iterative testing.
Themes
science
methodology
education
critical thinking
Mood
inquisitive
reflective
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- research labs
- public science communication
- science curricula
Key Concepts
empiricism
hypothesis testing
tentative explanations
Questions to Reflect On
- How can curricula better reflect the iterative nature of science?
- What habits foster continual questioning?
A Different Perspective
Teaching science as static can stifle inquiry and adaptability.
![“We should not go to the [poor countries] and say: 'We come to ... teach you our science, to show you your errors.' ... We should go instead with an inquiring mind and a humble spirit to learn [from] these people.” quote by Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/578/che-guevara-2007_country_we-should-not-go-to-the-poor-countries-a_1437957.jpg)
