How Science Will Save The World
In its very basic form, science is the tool that we use as humans to better understand the world (and space) around us.
In fact, our obsession with science can be traced back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, when contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and medicine all shaped Greek natural philosophy. This was further transformed by the Scientific Revolution during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, when science became more mechanistic and integrated with mathematics.
Why is science so important?
Science is vital for society in order to ensure that we can continue to survive, especially on a planet that isn’t naturally capable of accommodating our numbers, our waste, and our pollutants.
This was better put by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Brian Schmidt, who said, “In the short term, science helps make our lives better, but in the long term it will be crucial to our continued affluent survival.” Just one recent example, of course, is the breakthrough discovery and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination.
To better understand how science could save the world in the future, we should turn to how it has already saved the world. With just these few examples (and there are many more - the Internet and computers, for starters), we can better understand our capabilities as human beings to improve our world through the power of science.
Why computer science is important
Computer science is the nerve center of automation and problem-solving. The programming languages and the software programs created using computer science are not limited to tools for storing, processing, and interpreting digital information for mundane office applications such as spreadsheets.
In fact, many of the top-level software programs are used by the military, scientific institutions, and industries. Computer science has come to a point that it has created specialized artificial intelligence (A.I.) applications that automate many sensitive operations, from missile defense automation to global finance transactions.
Computer science has aided scientists to address complex problems, such as climate modeling and protein synthesis. It has allowed scientists in various fields to be more creative, while delegating what were previously manual data processing tasks to computers.
How has computer science impacted the world?
Computer science has impacted the world in many different ways. Its impact can be categorized into three levels:
- The individual
- Community
- Industry
At the individual level, computer science has made it possible for ordinary people to access vast amounts of information and applications (including games) via the internet and portable devices. Individual consumers do not even need to learn programming or coding to use sophisticated devices like laptops and mobile phones. Computer science made it easier for individuals to work and solve problems. At the same time, we also have access to recreation, entertainment, and conveniences.
At the community level, the world seems to have become smaller in terms of communication, transportation, and trade. This is thanks to innovations in computer science that made it possible for global interconnectivity (e.g. video conferences), logistics, efficient logistics, and secured financial transactions. Governments also benefited from computer science by digitizing bureaucratic transactions, minimizing red tape.
Finally, at the industrial/commercial level, computer science has given birth to specialized A.I. applications that automate many large-scale processes. From extracting oil and mining minerals to manufacturing microchips, A.I. has made industries more productive and profitable.
Here are some more examples of how computer science has impacted the world:
Satellites for GPS signals
Perhaps the most celebrated scientific success of our generation, the ability to launch satellites into space has made almost everything we do today possible. From our smartphones to self-driving cars, a lot of modern technology is made possible by satellite signals.
The miracles of modern medicine
Science has quite literally saved the world for many people suffering from previously terminal diseases. Just one example of this in action happened in 2015, when a one-year old girl named Layla Richards was treated with engineered cells for leukemia. This was a success, with Layla having no trace of leukemia in her body only five months later. Other previously untreatable diseases now overcome by modern medicine include the HIV virus, smallpox, and polio.
Endless inventions
There have been countless scientific inventions that have paved the way we work, eat, travel - and even wash. Each of them have made our lives immeasurably easier. These include things like the wheel, electricity, the lightbulb, the phone, and of course, the Internet of Things.
So, with all of these things already in mind, what could the future possibly hold? Well, in a 2021 webinar called ‘How Science Can Save the World’ hosted by The Economist, a panel of experts across the globe discussed the following:
How are microbes used in modern medicine development?
Research carried out at the University of British Columbia has discovered that we have been losing important microbes that are vital for restoring our health due to the industrialization process.
By reintroducing them, Assistant Professor Carolina Tropini and her team are hoping to see an improvement in modern diseases such as obesity, allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases, and many others. Another area where this type of research could make a drastic difference is with antibiotic resistance.
Applying the mRNA platform to other diseases
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, a chief scientist for the World Health Organization, believes that the mRNA platform behind the revolutionary coronavirus vaccine can now be applied to other infectious diseases and the development of antibodies used to treat further diseases and cancers. She believes that gene editing is a huge area set for advancement in the years to come, suggesting that we could see the cure for things like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
Public engagements with science
Zia Khan, the senior vice president for innovation at the Rockefeller Foundation, stipulates that more needs to be done to align the public's understanding of science and its significance within our society.
He explained that thanks to the unparalleled access to scientific research that we enjoy in 2021, almost anyone can access a scientific paper - but they can’t understand and appreciate it in the same way that an expert can. He believes that the general public should be aware of how science is in fact likely to save the world, especially when things like artificial intelligence and genetic evidence are going to bring them closer together.
How has AI supported renewable energy?
Finally, the president and chief executive of CIFAR, Alan Bernstein explored the need for robust forms of renewable energy in the face of climate change.
The challenge faced by scientists is figuring out how to harness and store the energy from the sun, in order to eliminate the need for carbon-based fuels. A team of interdisciplinary experts are currently working together in order to find out a way of using AI and robotics to harvest and store the sun's energy.
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