Monday 31 October 2016

Benefits of Engaging with Public

Science helps us to understand the world around us. Next, science can be used for specific problems (like extending the shelf life of vegetables and meat, making smokeless stove etc). Science cannot solve problems that has significant human influence. Problems like malnutrition, corruption and poverty are classic examples.

Application of science has produced many useful things to human beings. One such thing is vaccination technique. Using vaccination dreaded diseases like diphtheria, small pox and polio can be prevented from occurring. Thereby improving the human being's living conditions. But there is resistance to use  vaccination due to misinformation (fraudulent research publications [1], public apathy towards government [2]). A research paper appeared in Lancet journal linking autism and vaccination use. Subsequent research finding proved that vaccination has no bearing on autism [1]. Anyway the misinformation reached the public well than the subsequent research finding.

Nowadays affluent people prefer 'Organic farm produce' rather than produce enriched by chemical fertilizer. The problem is not chemical fertilizers but over use of fertilizers by ill trained farmers. But, public blame science for spoiling the agricultural lands and food.  So, it becomes imperative for scientists to communicate with common people and debunk the misinformation they hold.