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| Pugwash: Science for the Benefit of Humankind |
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| By Lauria Giarratani, Cameron Bess, and Omar Ahmad | ||
| May 2004 | Science and Society | |
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“We have to learn to think in a new way. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps; the question we have to ask ourselves is: What steps can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disastrous to all parties?” from the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, 1955. In 1957, facing the spectre of the hydrogen bomb, 22 eminent scientists from ten nations on both sides of the Iron Curtain met in Pugwash, Nova Scotia to discuss the growing threat of nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States. From this conference emerged an organization dedicated to fostering solidarity among scientists of all nations and ideologies in a global effort to prevent humankind from bringing about its own extinction. Over the past 47 years, the Pugwash Conferences have expanded their scope to include such topics as environmental degradation, resource scarcity, economic deprivation, and other areas where scientific and technological innovation presents itself as a double-edged sword, holding the potential to both jeopardize and benefit humankind. Student Pugwash is the youth affiliate of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. It aims to unite young people who share a common interest in examining the relationships between science and society and the common goal of ensuring that scientific research benefits humanity. At Rockefeller, our Student Pugwash chapter provides a forum for academic discussion and seeks to encourage interdisciplinary inquiry at the interface of social policy and scientific research. As scientists in training, we must learn to decide which problems most demand our skills and resources. Our hope is that by informing scientific inquiry with an awareness of social issues, we can help the scientific community better serve the interests of the rest of humanity. Our next sponsored event is the New York Regional Conference: “Addressing the Global Burden of Infectious Disease” to be held May 21-22, 2004. Infectious diseases are a critical issue for a significant portion of the world’s population. Combating disease requires collaboration between research scientists, public health and medical professionals, international organizations, and local institutions. This conference will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of such efforts. Experts will stimulate discussion and present diverse perspectives on the initiatives necessary to effectively address the global burden of infectious disease.Related Articles: |
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