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Conceptualizations of processes termed science have been part of our vocabulary for hundreds of years. Science has had an intermittent relationship with the public—sometimes exalted (moon landings polio vaccine, etc.), sometimes suspicious or evil (wartime gases, oversized mistakes like Three Mile Island) and all too frequently those with mixed reviews (vaccines, weight control treatment, etc.). Another way of thinking about science is through considerations of analyses focusing on elements of the scientific process. One of the more abstract but elegant descriptions of science is “a way of knowing” (McComas & Nouri, 2016, p. 560). The processes for generating science are generally thought to include notions that science is not entirely objective, is socially embedded, is empirically based, and cannot answer all questions (Alshamrani, 2008). One generalization that could be made about science is that it has had a long history of advancing the efforts of humans, society, medicine, engineering, and technology. Most of these effects have been heralded by those who understand them and benefitted from them.

It might be useful to conclude this section with broader thoughts about the essential nature of science. Littlefield (this book) advances important arguments supporting the historically close relationship between science and public policy. Examples abound demonstrating how federal policymakers have partnered with scientific organization in order to protect citizens from harm and even develop ways to promote their well-being (Littlefield). The chapter from Childress and Clark (this book) are equally robust in their perspective that science and public policy should enjoy a productive future together. We feel comfortable in borrowing an exemplar quote from the chapter by Ivanov and Parker (this book). The quote comes from Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Dr. Stack, a scientist, at a public news conference is exhorting the need for science to guide us out of the COVID-19 pandemic:

One point I want to emphasize is that it’s not politics if you have President Trump [Republican] and Governor Beshear [Democrat] making the same recommendations. It’s not politics. This is science. If we work together through this, we can succeed.

(Kentucky.gov, 2020, para. 8, italics added for emphasis)