science
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science
The entire system of gaining knowledge about nature, society, and thought, including research and teaching at universities and institutes.
Die Wissenschaft sucht nach Antworten auf die großen Fragen der Menschheit.
Science looks for answers to humanity's big questions.
discipline
A single, specific field of study or academic discipline, such as physics, history, or sociology.
Die Informatik ist eine relativ junge Wissenschaft.
Computer science is a relatively young discipline.
The word is made up of the verb 'wissen' (to know) and the suffix '-schaft' (-ship/-hood). The suffix '-schaft' forms abstract nouns that describe a state or a whole. 'Wissenschaft' is therefore literally the 'totality of knowledge.'
Die Freundschaft zwischen den beiden Forschern war sehr produktiv für ihre Wissenschaft.
The friendship between the two researchers was very productive for their field.
The word family includes the adjective 'wissenschaftlich' (scientific/academic) and the terms for people 'der Wissenschaftler' (male scientist/scholar) and 'die Wissenschaftlerin' (female scientist/scholar). If you know one word, you can often understand the others more easily.
Eine wissenschaftliche Studie hat neue Ergebnisse geliefert.
A scientific study has produced new results.
In German, 'Wissenschaft' includes all academic disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences (e.g., history, literature, sociology). In English, 'science' is often used more narrowly for the natural sciences.
Die Geschichtswissenschaft untersucht die Vergangenheit der Menschheit.
Historical scholarship studies humanity's past.
In its general meaning, 'Wissenschaft' is often used in fixed combinations, such as 'Wissenschaft und Forschung' (science and research), 'Wissenschaft und Technik' (science and technology), or 'Wissenschaft treiben' (to engage in academic research).
An der Universität wird nicht nur gelehrt, sondern auch Wissenschaft betrieben.
At the university, people not only teach but also conduct research.
When the word is used in the plural — 'die Wissenschaften' — it almost always refers to the various individual fields of study (meaning 2).
Die Geisteswissenschaften beschäftigen sich mit dem Menschen und seiner Kultur.
The humanities deal with humans and their culture.
research
Forschung is the specific, systematic search for new knowledge and includes its results. Wissenschaft refers to the broader system of gaining knowledge, including research and teaching. Forschung is suitable for specific research work; Wissenschaft is suitable for the scientific system as a whole.
Der Staat stärkt die Wissenschaft durch Investitionen in Universitäten und Institute.
The state strengthens science by investing in universities and institutes.
Der Staat fördert die Forschung an neuen Energiespeichern.
The state funds research into new energy storage systems.
