Science Under Attack: Has the Public Lost Faith in Scientist?

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Science Under Attack: Has the Public Lost Faith in Scientist?

Introduction

Over the years, science has taken over as the most important source of information for solving mysteries, questions and natural occurrences on earth. This has been possible with the advent of experiments, trials, publications and documentation of several processes aimed at achieving specific goals and solutions. With the ease of information flow and achievements of solutions, different conspiracies and theories have been used to counter the scientific approach and explanations. This is due to the availability of freedom of expression and questions from any member of the society. The public is now vocal on all issues affecting nature and ways of life forms on earth. Doubts and objections are part of any discovery, scientific arguments and relay of information. For the restoration of faith in scientist and their work, communication based on evidence is vital to achieve this.

Discussion

The video on Paul Nurse’s understanding of the growing suspicion towards the scientific community from the dark ages highlights the misconception by skeptics in the society. The main agenda focused in the video is the explanation on climatic changes due to human activities (Nurse 1). It is stated that the earth’s atmosphere has increasingly recorded growth in temperatures due to the human activities that increase level of carbon dioxide, which in turn heat up. Sir Paul Nurse uses scientific evidence and interviews from the leading scientists to state the base of the arguments. In addition, the misconceptions and conspiracies leveled against the scientific community are demonstrated together with personal accounts on the subjects of climatic changes, issues of vaccines and genetic modification of organisms (Nurse 1).

            On global warming and changes in climatology, humans are to be blamed for the rise in temperatures. With the acquired statistics on the amounts of combustion from human activities, it is clear that this is the prime contributor to rise in temperatures. The argument on climatic changes consequently by natural causes is not valid. From the past, temperature changes due to natural means were recorded as negligible. Human activities like burning of fossils, increased greenhouse gases, clearing of arable land for settlement, deforestation and desertification have all made up to the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The consequences have been documented through shifting weather patterns, warming of the oceans, melting of icebergs, severe floods and earthquakes to mention but a few.

            The public has become skeptical on the genetic modification of organisms like food and crops. Issues raised are towards the safety of the environment, safety of human consumption and adverse effects from them. The concerns are unfounded especially with the primary of genetic modification. The essence of gene alteration in organisms is to produce species that withstand harsh environmental challenges, yield more produce than the normal variety and offer better quality results coupled with sustained periods of resistance to diseases. It is with this effect that scientists sought to help farmers in their quest to ensure drought, famine, food shortages are cleared.

Conclusion

Science seeks to solve questions on nature, its forms and changes in the environment. During the process of evaluation, experimentation and presentation of the evidence, conspiracies against these efforts is propagated by critics. In most cases, the critics choose particular topics due to politics, influence and margin of errors associated with the studies. However, for the scientists to be relevant, communication based on evidence from all aspects of studies undertaken should be made available for all.

Work Cited:

Nurse, Paul. “Science under attack: has the public lost faith in scientists?” Online Video Clip. Films on Education. Films on Demand. Web. October 29, 2014. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/