In Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, how does science play a role in the story?

The novel depicts uses of science and knowledge, yet science is presented neither as all good nor all bad. While Nicodemus tells of the pain of scientific experimentation on animals, neither the scientists nor science itself is seen as evil. Dr. Schultz is criticized because he does not know the implications of the experiments, yet he is not inherently evil; when he holds the rats, he does so "gently but firmly." Mr. Ages is a type of doctor, who helps save Timothy's life with medicines. Moving Mrs. Frisby's home is only accomplished because the rats have knowledge that other animals do not have. The Plan, which requires that the rats leave their comfortable surroundings, still includes the use of science; Nicodemus and others have had to study science in order to learn how to develop their farming community. It would be easy, in a book such as this, to cast science as "bad," but careful reading will show that criticism is coupled with recognition of the advantages—when properly used—of science.