I contribute to society by doing and teaching science, but I don’t think that my contribution is any better or worse than any of the other scientists here.
Is a scientist who looks for a cure for cancer or studies climate change worth any more than a scientist who studies diabetes or who educates the next generation to be independent and critical thinkers? It’s difficult to measure someone’s contribution to society – everyone plays an important part I think.
If by “you” you mean “scientists” then I think scientists contribute a huge amount to society. The discoveries we make are the starting points of so much that affects daily life: medicine, electronics, energy, food. Many of the most commonplace things in your life started out as discoveries in a science lab. We also teach – you’ll be taught by people like us when you come to Uni, and we hope that we can help you continue the education your teachers are currently giving you.
If you want to compare all of us and what we do – that’s tough. Part of the reason for doing really basic research of the kind that we do is that we’re not sure yet what the value will be to society. As soon as the value is obvious, that kind of stuff is taken on by people working for companies. A lot of the research going on in Unis is pretty basic. How does the universe work, kind of stuff. You need that before you can turn it into something useful. Example – phone cameras rely on something called a charge coupled device (CCD). Amazingly useful. But when the science was being discovered, nobody thought one day that it would be in every phone in every pocket – you wouldn’t have recognised the first version!
This question is a bit like the question of what we dislike about science. Competitions like this are about having fun. Winning is fun, but it is not important. Unhealthy rivalry and competition are not fun. I used to play rugby, and the game that really sticks in my mind is the one we lost, by eleven points to nil. Yes, we lost. So why was it fun? Because both teams played their best and by doing so helped the other team enjoy the game. When we start saying I’m better than you, or my science contributes more than your science, that ‘s the ugly selfish uncooperative human behaviour which we try to avoid. We all contribute in different ways.
I don’t think I do or I’d have a Nobel prize by now!
I’m doing my best though and I think that’s what’s important. If people are nice to each other and the environment, animals etc, and do their best at work or in school, then I think we’d all be pretty happy.
Hmm… I don’t think I contribute to society the best. I’d have the Nobel Peace Prize by now if that was the case.
I think everyone in their own way contributes. By simply speaking with other people you’re in some way contributing. Some of the biggest discoveries in science came from the inspiration of other people. The invention of the telephone is a classic example. Alexander Graham Bell was actually trying to invent a hearing aid as his mother and wife were both deaf. In his endeavour to invent an hearing aid, he created a telephone instead.
I contribute to society by doing and teaching science, but I don’t think that my contribution is any better or worse than any of the other scientists here.
Is a scientist who looks for a cure for cancer or studies climate change worth any more than a scientist who studies diabetes or who educates the next generation to be independent and critical thinkers? It’s difficult to measure someone’s contribution to society – everyone plays an important part I think.
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If by “you” you mean “scientists” then I think scientists contribute a huge amount to society. The discoveries we make are the starting points of so much that affects daily life: medicine, electronics, energy, food. Many of the most commonplace things in your life started out as discoveries in a science lab. We also teach – you’ll be taught by people like us when you come to Uni, and we hope that we can help you continue the education your teachers are currently giving you.
If you want to compare all of us and what we do – that’s tough. Part of the reason for doing really basic research of the kind that we do is that we’re not sure yet what the value will be to society. As soon as the value is obvious, that kind of stuff is taken on by people working for companies. A lot of the research going on in Unis is pretty basic. How does the universe work, kind of stuff. You need that before you can turn it into something useful. Example – phone cameras rely on something called a charge coupled device (CCD). Amazingly useful. But when the science was being discovered, nobody thought one day that it would be in every phone in every pocket – you wouldn’t have recognised the first version!
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This question is a bit like the question of what we dislike about science. Competitions like this are about having fun. Winning is fun, but it is not important. Unhealthy rivalry and competition are not fun. I used to play rugby, and the game that really sticks in my mind is the one we lost, by eleven points to nil. Yes, we lost. So why was it fun? Because both teams played their best and by doing so helped the other team enjoy the game. When we start saying I’m better than you, or my science contributes more than your science, that ‘s the ugly selfish uncooperative human behaviour which we try to avoid. We all contribute in different ways.
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I don’t think I do or I’d have a Nobel prize by now!
I’m doing my best though and I think that’s what’s important. If people are nice to each other and the environment, animals etc, and do their best at work or in school, then I think we’d all be pretty happy.
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Hmm… I don’t think I contribute to society the best. I’d have the Nobel Peace Prize by now if that was the case.
I think everyone in their own way contributes. By simply speaking with other people you’re in some way contributing. Some of the biggest discoveries in science came from the inspiration of other people. The invention of the telephone is a classic example. Alexander Graham Bell was actually trying to invent a hearing aid as his mother and wife were both deaf. In his endeavour to invent an hearing aid, he created a telephone instead.
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