Author's Note: This post must not be construed as an article against scientific achievements. In every way I support scientific research, for if nothing else, it stimulates intellectual thinking.
I was reading an article: "Physicists Create Magnetic Monopoles--Sort Of". While I was reading it, I was impressed by how far we have left behind John Dalton's Plum-Pudding theory of the structure of the atom. No doubt, man is truimphiantly progressing on the two pillars of scientific advancement and economic prosperity. However, I am not satisfied with blindly accepting scientific achievements (however rational this may sound).
Whenever I see some article on some invention or discovery, the first question that comes to my mind is: Will this benefit humanity, how soon and in what way? Mankind devotes a lot of intellectual energy in pursuit of science, so it is only natural for mankind to expect something in return. Truly, no discovery has helped the world more than the discovery of fire; and no invention has helped the world more than the invention of the wheel. But everyday research is not about the things that are of direct or immediate concern to mankind. Who would bother about whether magnetic monopoles can exist or not or whether there can be a grand unified theory of gravitation and electromagnetism?
One of the problems with scientists is that they are (mostly) introverted (no offence meant, for even I am such a person), thus they do not reach out to the general populace and explain the direct relevance of such research to our everyday concerns. This results in the common man stereotyping the scientist as, well, we know how they are stereotyped. The common man ends up thinking that he has no connection with science, and thinks that scientists are acting according to their whims and fancies. This is a dangerous situation.
All of us must try to find ways of solving this conundrum, this enigma that is called science. I hope other people think over this and bring forth their views.
I was reading an article: "Physicists Create Magnetic Monopoles--Sort Of". While I was reading it, I was impressed by how far we have left behind John Dalton's Plum-Pudding theory of the structure of the atom. No doubt, man is truimphiantly progressing on the two pillars of scientific advancement and economic prosperity. However, I am not satisfied with blindly accepting scientific achievements (however rational this may sound).
Whenever I see some article on some invention or discovery, the first question that comes to my mind is: Will this benefit humanity, how soon and in what way? Mankind devotes a lot of intellectual energy in pursuit of science, so it is only natural for mankind to expect something in return. Truly, no discovery has helped the world more than the discovery of fire; and no invention has helped the world more than the invention of the wheel. But everyday research is not about the things that are of direct or immediate concern to mankind. Who would bother about whether magnetic monopoles can exist or not or whether there can be a grand unified theory of gravitation and electromagnetism?
One of the problems with scientists is that they are (mostly) introverted (no offence meant, for even I am such a person), thus they do not reach out to the general populace and explain the direct relevance of such research to our everyday concerns. This results in the common man stereotyping the scientist as, well, we know how they are stereotyped. The common man ends up thinking that he has no connection with science, and thinks that scientists are acting according to their whims and fancies. This is a dangerous situation.
All of us must try to find ways of solving this conundrum, this enigma that is called science. I hope other people think over this and bring forth their views.
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Hi sarath,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on few things, but i disagree on the point the scientists need not explain whatever they are doing. Why should i explain to the world what my research is concerned with, as long as it doesn't conflict anybodies interests.
If someone steretypes the scientist,thats his problem.
Next: True research about "Manetic monopoles" .... has no direct applications to the common man but don't take it granted that it ends there ... it's a stepping stone for something which might be iuseful for mankind say "Maglev" kind of.
Anyways I appreciate your concern.
(1) Abhijit, I fully agree with you that it is not one scientist or even one organization's job. But all national scientific associations could band together and bring out some publication (which will be simpler than a journal) and explain how this intends to help people in general.
ReplyDelete(2) Stereotyping is not a problem as long as it is confined to a few, but it is certainly a problem if it becomes like an infectious disease.
(3) You're right about the Magnetic Monopoles. However, last year, when the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was put into operation (I forgot to mention it in my article), a lot of misinformation was spread regarding its operation; and some people made it out to be a dangerous contraption. It is this misunderstanding that scientists must strive to remove.
Anyways, thanks a lot for your insights and a critical analysis of my article. I wish we could think more on this topic.