Science Department

It's a fantastic sight, isn't it? You know what it shows? It is a white dwarf surrounded by the cloud which was left when the star exploded as a supernova. Only one of the many phenomena of space you will see when travelling among the stars as a Starfleet officer. But will you know what you see? Will you be able to analyze it? Then you must become a science officer.

Uhm, before I forget to introduce myself, I'm Lieutenant Frank Clemmensen, New Worlds CinC of Science. So, you want to become a science officer? Let me tell you about a science officer's job then.

If you are serving aboard a starship you will have several duties. You will man the science station, of course, and handle the sensors. Also, you will research encountered phenomena and conduct experiments. You will have to find answers to many questions like "Is it a dangerous substance?", "Is it a life-form?" or "Is the planet's surface habitable?". Sometimes you will fail to find solutions for those problems, but perhaps you will make some important discoveries as well.

If you are stationed aboard a starbase you will have some different duties. There are experiments you cannot conduct aboard a starship because they take too much time and resources. These experiments are conducted aboard starbases. Also, starbases are centers for research and development. Science officers aboard starbases are developing new materials and theories leading to new technologies usable for Starfleet. It is their job to guarantee Starfleet's technological state will not fall back behind other affiliations. Of course, you must be able to work together with engineers and have some engineering aptitude as well.

Regardless of your assignment, may it be a ship or a starbase, you should be curious and innovative as a science officer. If you are seeing an unknown phenomenon, characterize it and try to give theoretical description of it as well. That's a science officer's job.

Now return to the Academy and start your career as a science officer. I wish you luck.

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