📘 Part 3: Learning about science

This episode's vocabulary

Salient#nbsp;(adj.) -#nbsp;the salient facts about something or qualities of something are the most important things about them.

Communicable#nbsp;(adj.) -#nbsp;able to be given from one person to another.

Contribute#nbsp;(verb) -#nbsp;to give something, especially money, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people.

Advancement#nbsp;(noun) -#nbsp;the development or improvement of something.

Dispense#nbsp;(verb) -#nbsp;to give out things, especially products, services, or amounts of money.

Enhance#nbsp;(verb) -#nbsp;to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something.

Inevitable#nbsp;(adj.) -#nbsp;certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented.

Manpower#nbsp;(noun) -#nbsp;the supply of people who are able to work.

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Questions and Answers

M: Rory, let's talk about learning about science. How popular are science subjects at school?

R: I imagine that depends on what the subject is and how much it fires the imagination. I mean, for example, nuclear physics probably isn't as popular as biology just because it's too abstract for many people and it's hard to relate to. By contrast, biology allows us to imagine how our bodies and those of other life forms operate.

M: How important is it for everyone to learn about science at school?

R: I suppose having a grasp of the basics is useful, so we should encourage a broad education students can choose from, but I don't know if it's important for everyone to know everything in depth.

M: How can museums help young people to understand science better?

R: Well, they can draw students attention to the most salient features and inspire them to learn more by sparking an interest.

M: And how can they spark the interest?

R: Well, like I said, you draw attention to things with exhibits, for example. Different activities for people to do, maybe presentations by famous people. You can do this at museums.

M: Let's talk about science in daily life. Does science affect our daily lives? How?

R: I suppose it doesn't have a direct impact if we talk about all of the research happening at this moment, but it can be indirect if we consider how it helps shape public policy and the scientific breakthroughs in terms of technological progress that it produces. I mean, take, for example, like the impact scientists have, they've had on coronavirus policies of various countries. So that is at least partially guided by science.

M: What do you think have been some of the most important inventions in the past 100 years?

R: Well, that's a good question. I don't know what to prioritize, really. Probably various vaccines and developments in electronics. They've allowed people to live longer and grow closer in terms of communication and development and proximity, if you think about vaccines that fight communicable diseases.

M: Do you agree that individuals have a responsibility to contribute to scientific research?

R: Well, if those individuals are scientists, then yes, but if not, then I don't think you can make any such demands. I'm not sure what they could contribute otherwise, to be honest.

M: Let's talk about science and the future. What great advances in science might be in the future?

R: I think the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics hold the greatest potential. Even if it's not like Star Trek levels of advancement, there's still definitely great potential for revolutionary advances like robots to assist in hospitals and A.I. that can dispense medication. That would save a lot of time and labor, actually.

M: What are the benefits of scientific collaboration between countries?

R: Well, you can pull resources and knowledge effectively. I think the Large Hadron Collider in Europe is a good example of this. Different countries brought together people to build something to enhance their understanding of the universe. That's quite cool.

M: So do you think is going to continue in the future?

R: The Large Hadron Collider or scientific collaboration?

M: Both.

R: Well, the Large Hadron Collider, I think, has got like a never ending list of projects and collaboration between countries. Well, as resources become stretched in some places and others have more then that's just inevitable. Otherwise, other countries will fall behind.

M: Will science alone be able to solve urgent global problems, do you think?

R: It will help us understand problems and provide options to help tackle them. But of course, we all need someone to authorize the release of resources and manpower to resolve them through action. You can have all the ideas in the world, but if they aren't backed up by action, then they will just remain exactly that. Ideas.

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