▁engineering , ▁and ▁technology ▁ ▁The ▁distinction ▁between ▁science , ▁engineering , ▁and ▁technology ▁is ▁not ▁always ▁clear . ▁Science ▁is ▁system atic ▁knowledge ▁of ▁the ▁physical ▁or ▁material ▁world ▁gained ▁through ▁observation ▁and ▁experiment ation . ▁Techn ologies ▁are ▁not ▁usually ▁exclus ively ▁products ▁of ▁science , ▁because ▁they ▁have ▁to ▁satisfy ▁requirements ▁such ▁as ▁utility , ▁us ability , ▁and ▁safety . ▁ ▁Engineering ▁is ▁the ▁goal - orient ed ▁process ▁of ▁design ing ▁and ▁making ▁tools ▁and ▁systems ▁to ▁explo it ▁natural ▁phen omena ▁for ▁practical ▁human ▁means , ▁often ▁( but ▁not ▁always ) ▁using ▁results ▁and ▁techniques ▁from ▁science . ▁The ▁development ▁of ▁technology ▁may ▁draw ▁upon ▁many ▁fields ▁of ▁knowledge , ▁including ▁scientific , ▁engineering , ▁mathematical , ▁lingu istic , ▁and ▁historical ▁knowledge , ▁to ▁achieve ▁some ▁practical ▁result . ▁ ▁Technology ▁is ▁often ▁a ▁consequence ▁of ▁science ▁and ▁engineering , ▁although ▁technology ▁as ▁a ▁human ▁activity ▁preced es ▁the ▁two ▁fields . ▁For ▁example , ▁science ▁might ▁study ▁the ▁flow ▁of ▁electrons ▁in ▁elect rical ▁conduct ors ▁by ▁using ▁already - ex isting ▁tools ▁and ▁knowledge . ▁This ▁new - found ▁knowledge ▁may ▁then ▁be ▁used ▁by ▁engine ers ▁to ▁create ▁new ▁tools ▁and ▁machines ▁such ▁as ▁sem icon duct ors , ▁computers , ▁and ▁other ▁forms ▁of ▁advanced ▁technology . ▁In ▁this ▁sense , ▁scient ists ▁and ▁engine ers ▁may ▁both ▁be ▁considered ▁techn olog ists ; ▁the ▁three ▁fields ▁are ▁often ▁considered ▁as ▁one ▁for ▁the ▁purposes ▁of ▁research ▁and ▁reference . ▁