Natural Sciences

Natural science is a branch of science concerned with the description, prediction, and understanding of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and repeatability of findings are used to try to ensure the validity of scientific advances.

Natural science can be divided into two main branches: life science (or biological science) and physical science. Physical science is subdivided into branches, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and earth science. These branches of natural science may be further divided into more specialized branches (also known as fields).

In Western society's analytic tradition, the empirical sciences and especially natural sciences use tools from formal sciences, such as mathematics and logic, converting information about nature into measurements which can be explained as clear statements of the "laws of nature". The social sciences also use such methods, but rely more on qualitative research, so that they are sometimes called "soft science", whereas natural sciences, insofar as they emphasize quantifiable data produced, tested, and confirmed through the scientific method, are sometimes called "hard science".

Modern natural science succeeded more classical approaches to natural philosophy, usually traced to ancient Greece. Galileo, Descartes, Bacon, and Newton debated the benefits of using approaches which were more mathematical and more experimental in a methodical way. Still, philosophical perspectives, conjectures, and presuppositions, often overlooked, remain necessary in natural science. Systematic data collection, including discovery science, succeeded natural history, which emerged in the 16th century by describing and classifying plants, animals, minerals, and so on. Today, "natural history" suggests observational descriptions aimed at popular audiences.

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Scholarships for Natural Sciences Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Emmy Noether Award

Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

Up to $75,000 March 27, 2024 See Details
 

Emmy Noether Award

Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

award

Up to $75,000

deadline

March 27, 2024
See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2024 See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2024
See Details
 

Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

Up to $15,000 Varies See Details
 

Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

$10,000 April 07, 2024 See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

award

$10,000

deadline

April 07, 2024
See Details
 

Richard and Muriel Saunders Family Scholarship

Colorado Mesa University

$10,000 August 01, 2024 See Details
 

Richard and Muriel Saunders Family Scholarship

Colorado Mesa University

award

$10,000

deadline

August 01, 2024
See Details
 

Vermont Space Grant Undergraduate Scholarship

Vermont Space Grant Consortium c/o University of Vermont

Up to $6,000 April 04, 2024 See Details
 

Vermont Space Grant Undergraduate Scholarship

Vermont Space Grant Consortium c/o University of Vermont

award

Up to $6,000

deadline

April 04, 2024
See Details
 

UHD Scholars Academy Scholarship

University of Houston - Downtown Scholars Academy

Up to $6,000 Varies See Details
 

UHD Scholars Academy Scholarship

University of Houston - Downtown Scholars Academy

award

Up to $6,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Beverly McAllister Parker Scholarship

Southern Nazarene University, Department of Science

$5,000 Varies See Details
 

Beverly McAllister Parker Scholarship

Southern Nazarene University, Department of Science

award

$5,000

deadline

Varies
See Details