麻豆约拍

Good morning.聽 World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated on November the tenth.聽 It falls within the International Week of Science and Peace, established by the UN to increase awareness of the relationship between progress in science and the maintenance of peace, and to encourage international co-operation between scientists.

As a non-scientist, I鈥檓 constantly amazed by the achievements of the scientific community: the development of a chip, implanted in the brain, enabling a paralysed man to move his fingers; the discovery of a cave fish that can walk up walls; the creation of a glass disc that can store data for nearly 14 million years.聽 Yet each innovation inevitably leads to ethical scrutiny.聽 One of this century鈥檚 biggest breakthroughs 鈥� the ability to modify the human genome in an embryo 鈥� could eradicate deadly disorders, but could also be a step too far in manipulating human evolution.

The American scientist, John Goodenough, whose work enabled another of the most significant developments of our age 鈥� the portable electronic device 鈥� observed that 鈥淭echnology is morally neutral; it鈥檚 what we do with technology that judges us.鈥澛� His greatest joy is to see the positive impact the mobile phone has had in the developing world, yet he laments the paradoxically negative effect it can have on human interaction.聽 What struck me about this pioneer of the technological revolution, was his motivation and humility 鈥� when asked why he鈥檇 never received the Nobel Prize, he said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I call wood, hay and stubble.聽 The main thing is, what is your contribution really to society?聽 I don鈥檛 worry about the prizes.鈥澛犅犅犅犅�

Lord, we marvel at science鈥檚 potential to enhance our lives, and whatever work we鈥檙e doing today, may we think more of its impact on others than its benefit to ourselves.聽 Amen.鈥�