Whether they are studying geological faults or developing a stronger support structure for suspension bridges, scientists and engineers in the natural and applied sciences want to understand how the physical and natural worlds work. Natural sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics study the natural world and its phenomena; applied sciences such as nanotechnology and mechanical engineering apply knowledge from the natural sciences to practical problems. More than many other scholars, scientists and engineers are likely to leave the privacy of their office or lab to engage in fieldwork and experimentation. Whether done in the lab or the field, however, writing—from the first grant proposal to the final report or scientific paper—plays a key role in the natural and applied sciences.