Why is science important?

As ever, Alom's work is full of warmth, enthusiasm, and intellectual rigour.

He also manages to bring out those characteristics in the people to whom he is speaking.

I love the fact the film is so positive. If you're a teacher, you've got to be that. And if you're not - resign now!

Alom

Many thanks for producing such a though-provoking film and website. Excellent work and a 'must see' for science communicators, scientists, teachers and beyond. Well done... Linda

I think the outreach of science is not important...it's URGENT! so congratulations for doing such a good job with your video and your project. I wish more people actually do more things to spread the word of why science is important

Greetings from Mexico City

Brilliant work Alom,
Well done and thank you very much for making it.

Wonderful movie. Great concept. Excellent use of the web as a teaching tool. As a school board member, I'll pass this along to as many teachers as I can. As an anthropologist, I note that biological anthropolists define the process of human evolution as the increasing reliance on intelligence as a way of life. Science is literally in our genes.

This was a really enjoyable film, and very well produced. Congratulations on a fantastic project, here's wishing you every success with it in the future.

Liz

Alom, I think your film is really marvellous and manages to do what so many academics fail to achieve: present the arguments without simplifying them, with sufficient detail and depth, whilst also making them clear and understandable for expert and layman alike. I have to say that I heartily agree with the sentiment that questioning the world and the universe, and accepting that questions are not only ongoing and limitless but also a necessary and fundamental part of being human, is the most crucial thing for any person to take away from their education and stands at the core of all academic endeavour. But I don't think that science can claim this sentiment exclusively as its own. As I understand it, the disciplines within humanities and the arts are equally interersted in questioning and trying to understand who we are, how we got here and where we are going. They cannot answer questions about the fabric of the universe, but they try to answer the ones about the fabric of human society, how we operate and function. Through the study of human endeavour and human creativity, the humanities, like the sciences, are investigating what we can acheive as a species. I don't disagree in the least that science is vital and holds the keys to specific questions but, in defence of my own discipline, I think that questioning how the world works, physically, chemically, biologically, socially, economically, politically, even linguistically, lies at the heart of all acaedmic pursuit.

Great film! Excellent stuff!

My own feelings are that science is important because it is the expression of our curiosity, the need to know WHY. So it's still important even if the results of scientific investigations do not seem to have a practical application. Of course, apparently useless facts often turn out to be vital, but even if they don't they are still important.

I think that the desire to suppress curiosity or to defeat it may be the clearest definition of evil. All wrong-doing involves lies and concealment, no matter what arguments are cooked up to make it seem right, justifiable or pragmatic. Science is the opposite of this, making the truth plain even if the revealed truth is uncomfortable, unwelcome or goes against long-established dogma.

We need more science. Not just experiments in labs, but more use of scientific methods in our everyday lives, more knowledge of science in our personal philosophies.

Hi Andy,

totally agree with you - I suspect that, so far, this project is probably "preaching to the choir". However, I hope you, and others who have watched the film, will help get non-choir members to watch the film too...

Thanks for your support Kylie. It's going to be available on this website indefinitely. You csn download a high res version from vimeo for personal use or get in touch with me and I'll send you a DVD.

Massive congrats on completing the film Alom. I’m hugely impressed, not only at the success of the web side of the project but also in the quality of the final film. It’s inspirational and thought-provoking but what I most like is how you’ve introduced subjectivity into a discussion on science. It’s cool to have people talking of their experiences and thoughts of a subject rather than just the straight impersonal facts we always get in docs. And nice one on the presenting! A number of brilliant links, my favourite of which is the long PTC at Qinetiq. That centrifuge thing looked great fun!! I hope word spreads about this film and gets some brains firing!

Excellent! It should be compulsory in all schools.

Alom,
Wow! Thank you for this production! I plan on sharing it with administrators, colleagues, pre-service teachers, and many of the “young scientists” I work with everyday. You are to be commended for your work.

Hi Will,

I totally agree with you...scientific discoveries can lead to problems as well as benefits for humanity. I believe I make that point in the film - shortly after the sequence on global warming etc. I make the point that science has led to weapons of mass destruction. I say in the film that it's up to us how we decide to use the fruits of science, through the democratic process, and that's why it's important for as many people as possible to understand science.

Seeing this is exactly what I needed! I teach science in a small district where science is...not exactly "important" to the higher-ups. It's all about standardized testing. Now that we've entered the slow crawl to spring break, the kids are tired, the teachers are tired, yet we must keep plugging along. Seeing this film reminds me of why I became a science teacher...because it IS important, and it reminds me that I need to keep that frame of mind ALL year, and if I don't, how can I expect it from the kids?

@ will:

The title of the film isn't "Science: a positive, neutral, or negative force," and it certainly isn't meant to be a comprehensive analysis of the effects of science on humanity. It addresses what it set out to address to the generation in the classroom. It reinforces why science is important, partly through discussing the problems that it can solve.

Saying science created CFCs and solved Ozone depletion, thereby making the overall process a neutral force is naive. The whole process of creating CFCs, finding out they were bad, and substituting other fluids brought us things like the refrigerator. If you don't want to "dis your mum", unplug your fridge and start stuffing your food with salt.

Science has enabled the population to grow to numbers that it may not be able to sustainably handle. The flip side is to stand idle and let people die off. Go ahead and argue that point, and that would be seen by most as a less than positive force.

I enjoyed the film, and even as a PhD student I found it inspirational. I think I'll head back into the lab, even though its a Sunday. Thanks, Alom.

Thank you Alom for a brilliant and inspiring film. It is a beautifully presented collaborative effort including some impressive scientists, and communicates its message extremely effectively.

As a medical doctor, I understand why people need to appreciate the importance of science and analytical thinking in order to make informed decisions. It is only by critically examining facts and figures that indiviudals can choose the best options for their own medical care and for public health. If this film helps encourage teachers and children to embrace the scientific method then it will be hugely beneficial.

Splendid film -- enlightening,empowering and entertaining.

Hi Alom,

thank you very much for time and patience to enlighten so many people about science. It is a fascinating on its own, but I really appreciate popularizators of science like Simon Singh, Richard Dawkins, Carl Sagan or you.

Thank you again for your time,
N::

Hi Alom,

While not adding anything to the answer "why is science important", I'd like to thank you for such an interesting web site, and for pulling off the project so magnificently. It's a credit to you and the participants.

Its the work of people like you and others that make science accessible that will go a long way in getting acceptance of the importance and necessity of scientific enquiry accepted.

Brilliant, and again - thanks.

Mike Sloane.

Fantastic! More more more! I really enjoyed this, how refreshing. I hope I can contribute something of this standard one day. Congratulations.

Hi Alom

Great job on the video - you are definitely onto a good thing here. I am a new faculty at a US university and I am busy designing a new non-major science course. Could you please email me as I would like to discuss user rights etc. with the use of this material.

Keep up the great work.

Science is important, as it might just come up with the answers to where it all went wrong before we destroy ourselves; I have a scientific interest in that.
But scientists Attenborough, Du Santoy and Dorkins' rampant public evangelical atheism does not help direct future scientists to an altruistic and empathetic future. I am not interested in their purile belief systems unless they are peer reviewed; I place them with Einstien's reluctance to accept quantum mechanics. Even the most brilliant scientist come up with nonsense; a little humility would help keep the non-scientific on board, may I site Hawking and Feynman.
Miles Clarke.

Excellent film, very thoughtful and very well made; I especially appreciated the last segment which I felt focussed more on pure science. I am a sophomore studying behavioral neuroscience at Hunter College in New York City, and I stumbled upon this film looking, essentially, for justification. It's easy to explain, to others but more importantly to oneself, the value of medicine or technology, but because my interests lie squarely in the domain of pure science I've always been nagged by that fact that in all honesty, I "do" science purely to indulge my own curiosity. Moreover, I've always been bothered that neither teachers nor peers ever really address the issue of what the real value of science is. The inherent importance of science for its own sake is very hard to pin down, but I think it is something worth stopping to consider.

I would like to see more conversation in the research community about why we what we do and how it impacts society, and more outreach between scientists and others in the community. Science is far too cloistered for its own good; I believe that we as scientists need to understand the importance of, and foster, a role as part of a community, not simply generators of random bits of knowledge. Science may be importance simply because it allows us to understand ourselves and our world, as indeed I believe it is, but that value only goes so far as the knowledge and understanding is disseminated.

Cheers, and thanks for tackling this neglected issue!

Celine

Why is Science Important ?

My answer may seem to lean on the spiritual side, but it's not. Plus, it will probably need a bit of explaination:

Science is the study of the Universe learning the truth of itself.

To the person reading this, you are the Universe.

The fundamental forces which are common to every point with in the universe govern the properties of the quarks and electrons which make up the matter of your body.

The constituent elements that make up your body were forged in the big bang and during the life and death of long past stars.

The very same quantum probabilities and chaos that regulate the decay of an unstable isotope have also contributed to the accumulation of atomic and chemical processes that created your unique DNA and the functional structure of your brain supporting the formation of your consciousness.

You, along with every living thing, regardless of chemical or physical complexity, is the Universe experiencing itself.

But, you, because of your ability to abstract concepts and ideas, are the Universe learning the truth and understanding itself, This is Science.

Great video and very informative. I love the concept and I will definitely use it with my high school students in my physiology and earth science courses. I think that I will give them a survey before the video in addition to a small experiment will to make them think before watching the video.

Thanks for the great work,
Best
Imene

Mr. Sherman,
I have been thinking along the lines of your quote for many years, but I have never been able to articulate it as beautifully as you did here.

I teach science and I think I just may have to put your quote on my classroom wall.

I have been stuck on an assignment for two days. My task was to find the answer why is science important (te be taught and to be learnt). I listed the classical answers: Because Science is all around us, because it explains how and why we live, etc... but after watching this film one sentence burnt my mind: Science is important because is is the key to our survival as species. BRILLIANT! That's it! EUREKA!!! Thank you.

Mr. Alom Shaha,

My name is Kenisha White and I am an Undergraduate Student in the United States and I am looking for a summer research project abroad for the coming summer. I saw your video and how it diligently tried to answer with sincerity the question of "Why Science Is Important?". I myself two years ago was faced with this question at the 2009 World Science Festival where I was able to understand other scientist' points-of-views and how they understand the importance of science. With that said, I just want to say thank you for that video because not only did it helped me understand why science is important, but it also provided me with that opportunity to spark lots of interests in the different fields of science and especially thinking about having some of those experiences from an international perspective.

I think the viedo peak my quriosity as to the importance of science in every day life. Science provide fact, it gives a greater understanding of how things work. It makes life easier,help solve problems, prolongs life by finding treatment to diseases. Science builds people awareness and helps them to make better choices. Society as a whole has grown intellectully because of science. It helps us to think, to ask question, which helps us to go further in reaching goals and finding new ones. Science is every where in every thing that we do.

your final answer is super awesome and i copied it for my science homework.. and guess what............. my teacher loved it and gave me 10 merits

What a great idea for a project, addressing such an important question!

I strongly believe in science education ad communication. Sadly this not always seems to be high in the agenda for the politicians and country leaders. It is really commendable that you embarked on production of such a film. I wonder if I could share it on my website ( I run a science tutoring agency with the aim of becoming a social enterprise and promoting science in disadvantaged communities in Scotland)?

Many thanks - Maggie ( @EdScienceTutors on twitter)

Alom & "Why is Science Important" team,
I have to say that the video I just watched was one of the most satisfying, intellectually astute, well directed, informative, and inspiring videos I have ever watched. I am a 16 year old senior and was asked to write an essay about science. I already had my own idea of what I was going to ask formulated, but I wanted to see what Google had to say about science, and that's when I came across this website, which I honestly did not believe would be as great as it turned out to be. So I started watching the video, 10 minutes in and I didn't want to stop, but I didn't want to use the opinions of any of your contributors as my own so I paused it, went on to finish my essay, turned it in so there would be no chance of copyright and went on to finish my essay, to my surprise many of the reasons I wrote science was important were mentioned in the video. Anyways, I honestly think this video should be showed on the science channel, natgeo, or discovery it was AMAZING. I thank you and the whole team for taking the time to make such a fantastic film.

This film is really good it opens your eyes to the lengths and depths that scientist in each of their fields go to to discover and or solve alot of what we the non science fans take for granted.

You wake, sleep and go about your life on a daily basis, and many of us never really take into consideration how life inside out really works. It's clear that science has alot to do with the life we live and enjoy today and my view is that if it wasnt for the love and dedication of all these scientist that we may have been stuck in ice age.

Thanks fantastic science video! as a student, videos that are made for educational purposes are often slow, boring, and fail to capture my attention

I think your film is really marvellous and manages to do what so many academics fail to achieve: present the arguments without simplifying them, with sufficient detail and depth...