Is there a big difference between science and engineering?

I guess the most simple explanation is that engineering is the practical appliance of science - you can study chemical engineering, biological engineering, etc. Science degrees tend to be more about pure science in the subject area chosen

A “pure scientist” would be someone who discovers knowledge without regard for what it’s for.

A “pure engineer” would be someone who couldn’t care less about where or why something is true as long as it does something useful.

In real life, most practitioners fall somewhere in between and some even lean towards the other end. On the scientific end some discoveries / creations take decades to have value beyond pure knowledge, either because no one sees a use for it “yet” or it’s impossible to make now or just costs way too much. Like Einstein’s theories. This can be true for engineering research as well, but in general, they focus more on the shorter term “profit” from it.

Another take on it can be that a scientist leans more toward the actual physical or conceptual “nature” of something. But an engineer leans more toward “ideas” made up by man. For example, a scientist can discover electricity. But and engineer may “discover” the computer. Mother nature has no evidence that a computer should exist (although electricity always existed)…but a computer only does because of man.

Some subjects account for this difference and some not. It's usually more ofthen that the differences will be more pronounced when you advance.

Science discovers, engineering builds. That's the basic difference.

science you use calculations, math and physics. engineering you use the same but you do it in the field where things are being put together and you have to make critical knowledge based judgment calls to see things through and get the job done your not sitting in a office speculating you at ground zero watching it happen in front of your face . the calls you make can kill people if you are wrong so you measure three times go back and check again and make a call.

Engineers make use of the formulae from science to make it into reality.