The mission of the Science Department is to present science as a rational and systematic observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena. Application of these principles in the natural sciences to include physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, and ecology will be emphasized. The Science Department will stress the importance of critical thinking and logical reasoning using various methods of investigation, such as observation, comparison, experimentation, and mathematical manipulation of data. The Science Department is also committed to the concept that science has a practical application and has to be understood in a larger cultural context. It is through inquiry that students are able to view science as an interdisciplinary study applicable to society. Science courses that not only challenge students’ traditional views of science, but also build the scientific skills that create a sound foundation, which students will use when viewing the world around them.