Sciences division The sciences division was the corps of officer s and crewmen within Starfleet who specialized in both scientific and medical research and control functions on starbase s , aboard starship s , and at Starfleet Command . Members of the sciences division specialized in sensors , research , theoretical and physical laboratory work , biological studies , and also as technicians , medics , and surgeons . Officers who belonged to the sciences division sometimes wore the division color of a department other than that in which they specialized . ( ) For example , if a science officer became a department head , they might have worn the colors of command division , or if they had a dual speciality in an operations division department , an alternate color might have been worn . ( ) Beginning with the Earth Starfleet of the 2140s and 2150s , line officers and noncoms of science division wore blue division stripes on their uniforms . This use of blue continued through several uniform styles until 2260s . On starships , such as the , science division crewmembers had a specialty insignia in their insignia patch , a circle with two longitudinal lines dividing it . By the 2270s , new uniforms showed different division colors , with the sciences division signified by two differing colors . Science research and technical staff wore orange behind their Starfleet badge , on uniform bands , accessories , and epaulets . Medical crew wore green badge backings and accessories . The sciences division was changed again with the 2280s uniforms , with green continuing to represent medical personnel , but science and technical staff now wore gray colors ( which was a style shared by services personnel of operations division ) . The insignia used gave the officer the option of wearing command division white uniform insignia , with another department color like sciences ' banded across , or the opposite , with department color insignia ( green or grey , in this case ) with command white banded across . On the uniforms used from 2350s onward , blue had again become the sciences division color . The second variant of the 2371 uniform , while still referred to as blue , was actually a shade of green , jungle green . The color was later be applied to the 2373 uniforms as well . Command opportunities / Careers within the division . Officers within this division are mostly limited to scientific or medical assignments such as doctors , nurses and scientists working in a variety of disciplines . These officers will serve as department heads such as chief medical officers and head science officers . Opportunities for command assignments are somewhat limited for these officers due to their lack of overall command experience and training . However , officers who have taken and passed the Bridge Officer ' s Test can be promoted in rank to Commander and are certified to command a starship if necessary . In most instances , however , science division officers will only take command of a ship or starbase in the absence of other senior officers due to such circumstances as an emergency , illness of a commanding officer or manpower shortages as may occur in wartime , for example . Additionally , these officers may fill the role of executive officer where needed . Jadzia Dax , for instance , took over as XO and then commander of the during the Dominion War when the situation required it . ( ; )