The universe is essentially made up of layers, both literal and metaphorical. Layers of time, layers of knowledge, layers of life, separating and overlapping in infinite cycles. Only when one layer is complete can another be created, and each layer contributes to the comprehensive web of everything in existence. STEM constitutes a substantial portion of the foundational processes of the universe, and STEM also comes in layers which when put together forms a hierarchy of STEM subjects. Exploring this hierarchy can not only expand our world view, but improve our awareness and understanding of the learning we engage in every single day.
Galileo Galilei famously said, “To understand the universe, you must first understand the language in which it’s written, and that language is mathematics.” Mathematics is arguably the “purest” form of knowledge. Humans have long made sense of the fact that if you put two things together, there will be more things than before. There is no other knowledge required to arrive at that conclusion. Through time, we have converted mathematics into a language we can recognize and manipulate: instead of “things” and “putting together”, we can now simply say or write “1+1 = 2.” Logic is mathematics, and anything that involves change, structure, and quantity could be considered mathematics. Those qualities define exactly how the universe works, therefore mathematics is the baseline and most vital layer of the hierarchy of STEM subjects.
Now that the language of the universe has been uncovered, further development of knowledge and expression is needed to explain how the universe works, and that development is physics. Using what we already knew about mathematics, we could establish equations and theorems representing constant laws of the universe. With physics, significant figures such as Newton, Kepler, and Galilei were able to confirm that Copernicus’ heliocentric model of the universe to be correct. Imagine what kind of world we would be living in today if the conventional belief is that the Earth is the centre of the Solar System! Physics has allowed us to apply our basic knowledge of the universe to tangible things around us, from meteorology and transportation to pushing and pulling doors open when we enter a building. Another essential layer has been added to the hierarchy of STEM subjects, and there’s no going back.
We can express how the universe works with mathematics and physics, but what about the universe itself? What are things actually made of and how are we connected to all of this? In comes the subject of chemistry, the study of matter. The more we advance on this hierarchy, the more we are able to appreciate our place in the universe. Chemistry has proved that everything in the universe is composed of the same basic unit, including us: the atom. In comparison, chemistry is a more materialized subject than mathematics and physics, which means that it can be better used to develop modernized technologies. The screen that you are using to read this blog and the vaccines that are being distributed to people around the world couldn’t have been made possible without chemistry. However, like a Jenga tower, the third row of blocks can’t exist without the first and second row of blocks either. This Jenga tower will naturally be built higher and higher as history progresses, and the only thing we can do is add another row.
A decently comprehensive mass of knowledge about the universe and how we fit into it can now be formed with mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Combined with the humanities such as history, literature, and music, the universe seems pretty transparent. We have successfully bridged the gap between us and the universe. But, what about the gap between us and us? Only biology can bridge this gap as the study of life. In fact, biology does indeed add life to our mass of knowledge. Not only has our Earthly lives been improved to new heights with better understanding of topics like genetics, medicine, and agriculture, our reach to beyond the universe has also unbelievably lengthened, from the moon to Mars to perhaps another civilization in the future. Biology brings everything back home, and away from home at the same time. Finally, with mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology complete in the hierarchy of STEM subjects, virtually completely man made subjects like computer programming and engineering can thrive to their full potential.
The hierarchy of STEM subjects is the story of the universe. Using the Jenga tower analogy, only four main rows have been built, with hundreds of additional blocks which “branch out” from them. Perhaps this is a sign that our story of the universe is limited while the universe itself is infinite, and that we will continue revealing more layers in this hierarchy so long as we are in existence. When we navigate this hierarchy of STEM subjects, we should seek to connect concepts that we learn to “lower” subjects in the hierarchy. For example, being able to explain the process of mitosis through chemistry and physics instead of just listing the basic steps through biology. Ultimately, the story of the universe will always be there for you to explore, understand, and apply. Take small, productive steps to absorb it fully, and maybe one day you will be the person to add another row of blocks to the Jenga tower.
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Resources
Why Math is the "Language of the Universe:". (2014, January 21). Retrieved May 3, 2021, from https://futurism.com/why-math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-2
What is Physics and Why is it Important? (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2021, from https://www.universalclass.com/articles/science/what-is-physics-and-why-is-it-important.htm
Anne Marie Helmenstine, P. (n.d.). What Is the Importance of Chemistry? Retrieved May 3, 2021, from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-importance-of-chemistry-604143