How to get the maximum amount of science from an experiment

[nashiem]

lets say a materials study will give me 12 science, but when I do it it only gives me 10. How do I get the other 2 science?

[Ogre420]

Did you have a scientist on board when doing the testing? they allow for more science points from experiments.

NOTE: All experiments have a base point value MODIFIED by what planet/moon/biome that you are in, that MIGHT account for lowered SCI points...

[nashiem]

I did not have a scietist on board, but my question is, is there a way to achieve all the science left after you have already done the experiment?

[Ogre420]

EVA, get SCI from experiment, have Kerbal put SCI in capsule, have scientist reset the experiment, re-do the experiment, that should give you a little more...

[Yeti]

The way it works is, there's a max amount of science per experiment per biome per planet, and it'll never decrease, though repetition will reduce return values. The optimal way to collect science is to transmit the experiment repeatedly until the Science gain for transmitting is zero, then return the experiment physically back to Kerbin.

A scientist doesn't increase the base value per se, but can collect and reset experiments. The real power is throwing him into a Lab with duplicate experiments and extra data, and leave him there for a long time to grind it into Science.

[nashiem]

I remeber I used to use a acientist along with jeb and when I would do experiments near the moon I would get extra science, is this still available and why does it not happen around kerbin?

[mreed2]

Note that when you do the same experiment multiple times (without transmitting or returning the results between attempt), it will show the science gain *assuming that you will only be returning / transmitting the most recent instance of the experiment*. When you, in fact, attempt to transmit or return both, whichever one will is second will give less science than was reported when you executed it. How much less depends on whether or not you are transmitting vs. returning.

[Freely]

Or you can get this mod http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/113323-no-more-science-grinding/