Science and technology can be both helpful and harmful. For example, nuclear technology can be used to generate electricity, diagnose disease in the body, and build bombs. Should there be regulations about what science can study or what applications of science can be made? How should a society make those determinations?
Write an essay of up to five hundred words, then submit it using our submission form and you might be published here in Insights, or even on TIP’s main blog!
As you think about this topic, consider the things you learned in the other marine science articles from this issue. How does biomimicry help or hurt our ability to build beneficial new technologies? What role did previous technologies play in changing the climate, and what lessons do you take from that? How might exploring the deep sea affect our technology and our planet?
Trevor Puzzio says
First off all, let me get something out of the way: human activity, at the moment, does not contribute to climate change.
Now that I’ve said that, I can move on to the response. I believe the government and powerful corporations have every right to use technology for their own or the public’s benefit. However, if society sees these innovations as harmful, they also reserve the right to petition and bring these changes to an end.
As an American conservative, I don’t think the government should intervene with the rise of nuclear power and nuclear-powered medical technologies. The government has no place here; it is the people’s job to determine whether or not these creations are harmful.
Gary says
Trevor,
It seems that scientific evidence runs contrary to your assertion. Humans are releasing vast quantities of carbon back into the Earth’s atmosphere … Carbon that was checked and stored over millions of years of Earth’s “natural” evolution. Humans have developed a dependence on these energy stores, and that use has clearly contributed to the rapid rise in average annual temperature and the consequential melt down of Earth’s polar ice caps. We can continue to be ignorant of these facts or choose to be better stewards of the only planet that gives us life as we know it today. Science can help us or hurt us….that choice is ours to make.
Kanpai!
-Gary
Donovan says
I’m sorry Trevor, but I simply can’t agree with your statement about climate change. There is overwhelming scientific evidence and statistical data that shows climate change is caused by humans, mainly because of our massive output of carbon emissions. It’s simply an undeniable fact. However, your statements on government and technology are very nice answers I had never thought about as an option before.