Federation science vessel

Federation science vessels were ships designated for scientific research by the United Federation of Planets.

In 2286, Doctor Gillian Taylor, a transplanted 20th century whale biologist, was assigned to a Federation science vessel shortly after her arrival to the 23rd century, in order to "catch-up on the past 300 years". 

In 2365, Captain Picard proposed requesting a Federation science vessel to their location in the Morgana Quadrant, to better study an unknown void discovered there by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), prior to its entrapment in the phenomenon. 

In 2369, Starfleet dispatched two science vessels to study a newly-discovered Dyson sphere. 

In 2370, the Enterprise-D picked up a request for emergency assistance from a Federation science ship in the Topin system. This was a ploy devised by Ro Laren aboard a Maquis raider, to lure the Enterprise in so that she could steal a supply of medkits. 

Types of Federation science vessels

 * Nova-class
 * Nova-class