Starfleet's View on Its Sciences Division and the Star Trek Symbol

[BillJ]

Just that it feels like Science department is on the low end of the hierarchy, perceived as a support status for the overall defensive mission, rather than science for as the principle goal.

Whether that was intended or not, it does feel like that is how Starfleet evolved.

 

[GabyBee]

I disagree wholeheartedly. Just because science officers don't necessarily have blind ambition to accumulate more shiny rank pips does not mean that it is simply a "support" role. Science is what drives both Starfleet as an organization, and serves as a central core of Star Trek's philosophy as a whole. If not, Star Trek would not serve to inspire thousands of individuals to enter science as a career. And the body of evidence that it has done exactly that is enormous.

 

[fireproof78]

Regardless of what inspiration individuals draw from Star Trek, it's a matter of presentation within the show itself.

 

[BillJ]

I disagree wholeheartedly. Just because science officers don't necessarily have blind ambition to accumulate more shiny rank pips does not mean that it is simply a "support" role. Science is what drives both Starfleet as an organization, and serves as a central core of Star Trek's philosophy as a whole. If not, Star Trek would not serve to inspire thousands of individuals to enter science as a career. And the body of evidence that it has done exactly that is enormous.

Don't blame me, blame the TV shows. The fake science definitely took a back seat to wars and Klingon non-sense.

 

[GabyBee]

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it is scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based!" ~ Jean-Luc Picard

 

[BillJ]

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it is scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based!" ~ Jean-Luc Picard

That really has nothing to do with what's being discussed. Fake science is definitely the lowest priority when push comes to shove in the Star Trek universe.

 

[GabyBee]

Maybe if the only episodes of Star Trek you ever watch are a handful from the latter two seasons of DS9...

 

[BillJ]

Maybe if the only episodes of Star Trek you ever watch are a handful from the latter two seasons of DS9...

Can you name a time where a science mission took priority over a military mission?

 

[GabyBee]

"And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive to seek out new worlds and explore space." ~ Kathryn Janeway

 

[BillJ]

I don't think there was an intentional drive to make the science division in Starfleet seem unimportant. But, it is TV, they are going to go with drama they knew audiences understood.

 

[Tenacity]

I'm really not understanding why there is some kind of resistance to this notion.

It's not supported by the majority of missions shown in the various episodes.

Science is what drives both Starfleet as an organization, and serves as a central core of Star Trek's philosophy as a whole.

I would disagree on science being "drive" and "central core."

It's not that there are never science missions, however these science missions are not Starfleet's foremost reason for existence.

Starfleet is a "instrument of national policy."

 

[BillJ]

"And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive to seek out new worlds and explore space." ~ Kathryn Janeway

That wasn't the directive of her mission to begin with. You should know that.

 

[Tenacity]

"And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive to seek out new worlds and explore space." ~ Kathryn Janeway

Voyager wasn't "assigned" to the delta quadrant, and Voyager's primary mission (as seen on screen) was returning to the Federation.

They conducted science along the way when the opportunities presented themselves.

 

[fireproof78]

It's not supported by the majority of missions shown in the various episodes.I would disagree on science being "drive" and "central core."

It's not that there are never science missions, however these science missions are not Starfleet's foremost reason for existence.

Starfleet is a "instrument of national policy."

Well said.

 

[GabyBee]

So is this just turning into a backdoor thread to re-litigate the whole "Starfleet is a military" topic? Because that got old...

 

[BillJ]

I wonder which sounds better?

"We're going to have to fight our way across space for the next seventy years in cramped quarters..."

-or-

"And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive to seek out new worlds and explore space."

 

[Tenacity]

So is this just turning into a backdoor thread to re-litigate the whole "Starfleet is a military" topic?

Not at all, as you yourself said once "Starfleet is Starfleet."

A part of Starfleet is science, but it's not a science organization. Just because we sometimes see starships hauling around diplomats and VIPs, doesn't make Starfleet a passagers service.

 

[The Wormhole]

A concentration in piloting or engineering does not mean that one views science with contempt.

Didn't say it did.

 

[fireproof78]

Didn't say it did.

Didn't you know? All science is held in contempt by command level officers, Admiral

 

[Spot261]

So is this just turning into a backdoor thread to re-litigate the whole "Starfleet is a military" topic? Because that got old...

Twenty years ago