Scientific research is a token of humankind’s survival by Vladimir Keilis- Borok
“Scientific
research is a token of humankind’s survival “was written by Vladimir
Keilis who was born in 1921 and died in 2013. He was a Russian mathematical
geophysicist and seismologist. He taught at the University of California, Los
Angeles. He was the research group leader of the International Institute for
Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics, Russian Academy of
Science.
He was also
Co-director (and Founder) of the Research Program on non-linear dynamics and
earthquake prediction at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical
Physics, Trieste. He was awarded the first Lewis Fry Richardson Medal for
exceptional contributions to non-linear geophysics (1998) and the 21st-century Collaborative Activity Award for studying complex systems by, the McDonnell Foundation.
Introduction to Text: This essay’s speaker is the author himself, who talks about his profession as a scientist and
advocates that science is the indispensable guardian and caretaker of
humankind. The essay has shown how scientists across the globe, rise above
their national identities to find solutions for common problems of nations. The
writer has presented the importance of science and its inventions for the
welfare of humankind. Only basic research can create a springboard for developing a new disaster preparedness
industry.
Essay‘s Type: The
narrative essay reports events or tells a story using elements of fiction.
Plot, characters, and details are included in a narrative essay. Generally,
these essays are written in chronological order. The purpose of the narrative
essay is to share a personal experience that a reader can identify with or
learn from. The characteristics of a narrative essay include the use of characters
and setting, literary techniques, chronology, and a moral to the story.
Summary: If you are so clever, why are you so poor, In the
opening line of the essay the author asks. This is an attempt by him to
demonstrate that, while making less money than businesspeople, doctors,
lawyers, etc., scientists cannot exist without research. He used Leo Tolstoy's
work as an example to support his claim, according to which a writer is someone
who cannot survive without writing rather than just someone who writes. Science
is a thrilling adventure where discoveries themselves are the main reward. In
this way, scientists receive accolades, advance in their careers, and
experience freedom, friendship, and independence.
The author then discusses his experiences throughout the Cold War. He received an invitation
to Geneva in 1960 to take part in a conference on the nuclear arsenals of
Russia, America, and England. The three nuclear powers could easily annihilate
other countries with a single nuclear strike. They were open to reaching a deal
that forbade further nuclear testing. However, they encountered a problem: how
could they tell whether someone was breaking the rules? For that technical
experts including the writer were called to fix the problem and promote world
peace. The writer learned from this that science is the only means of ensuring
everyone's survival and well-being. The world's most pragmatic people are
scientists. New brands and technology in every sector of business, from
entertainment to defense, demonstrate this. Earthquakes, the self-inflicted
destruction of megacities, environmental catastrophes, economic and social
crises, and man-made calamities like a huge release of radioactivity from the
disposal of nuclear waste pose a threat to the future of our civilization.
The only hope for a
remedy, whether it be for a tsunami or terrorism, is scientific research. We
can all move forward in safety because scientists are up to the task and have
the necessary instruments. Science is unavoidably the protector and custodian
of humanity's survival and should be applied with kindness and without hatred.
Theme: The only force capable of ensuring the safety and
survival of humanity is science, which also serves as the species' unavoidable
protector and caregiver. Science must be applied with kindness and without
ulterior motives. Even if scientists make less money, the discovery itself is a
significant reward for them. Scientists can only survive with science.
Scientists are the most pragmatic individuals in the world, and science is a
thrilling adventure where the main pleasure comes from discovery itself. The
writer could readily distinguish between the two separate tremors as natural
and man-made earthquakes. It is evident from their many creations that
knowledge of fundamental sciences constantly aids individuals from various
areas.
Interpretation: Even if scientists' salaries
are comparable to those of businesspeople, attorneys, and doctors, the essay's
author notes that some people continue to struggle to pursue careers in
science. He sees science as a quest with incentives for making discoveries. Instead
of compensation, scientists receive autonomy, friendship, independence, honors,
and advancements. The second paragraph describes how when like-minded people
collaborate, an immediate awareness of the effectiveness of thinking and action
and a positive sensation result. The head of the Russian Academy of Science
called him in 1960 while he was conducting research on seismic waves (earth
tremors) in Moscow.
The threat of
nuclear annihilation at the time made superpowers like the United States, Great
Britain, and Russia willing to agree to a ban on nuclear weapon tests. The
author, who has theoretical knowledge of seismic waves, had good knowledge of
the tremors caused by an underground nuclear explosion as well as all tremors
caused by earthquakes, and for the survival of all human species, various
nations had signed a treaty prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons.
Critical Analysis: This essay
uses words with simple to somewhat complicated meanings to explain the writer's
occupation as a scientist and demonstrate how important science is to him or
her. In this essay, the author makes the point that people don't become
scientists purely for money; rather, they want to help their country
advance. Even
while science also allows us to see disasters and other unfavorable things,
when applied positively, it may work marvels. Everyone is content with their
wisdom, not their wealth, according to a well-known adage. Understanding the
fundamentals of science offers us an advantage in any field we choose. Hazards
can be caused by science, but they can also be prevented. The only thing that
matters is how it is being used. All human progress and development may be
traced back to science. The accomplishments of Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Stephen
Hawking, and many more serve as important real-world examples.
Assimilation: Some of the most financially
rewarding and life-saving inventions of the past century, such as the laser,
vaccines, and pharmaceuticals, as well as the invention of the radio and
television, were the result of basic research. We now understand that modern
issues call for modern fixes. The complexity of the world's most critical
problems evolves, and research is a catalyst for their solution. We have
developed civilization as a result of the wealth of research discoveries that
have been made throughout time, which takes us to the next reason why research
is important: if only scientists do research, the rest of the world
benefits from the results. We learn about how nature functions and how our
actions impact it. We learn more about people and the reasons behind their
actions.
With the most
recent information in health, nutrition, technology, business, etc., we enrich
lives. Medicine has made it possible to treat illnesses like malaria and
tuberculosis thanks to scientific research. Vaccines, diagnoses, and treatments have all been made simpler overall. Even though COVID-19 could be studied based on the SARS coronavirus, the vaccine Pfizer and Biotech have been developing has
proven 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. Research is not only a
priceless tool for advancing critical knowledge, but it is also the only
surefire way we can start to comprehend the complexities of various issues; uphold our integrity as we refute lies, and uphold significant truths; to serve
as the seed for analyzing complex arrays of data.
Conclusion: In
conclusion, the writer supports his arguments for science and
the products it has produced by expressing his ideas in favor of them. He views
science as the essential custodian and guardian of humankind's survival. The
survival of humanity is ensured through scientific research. Only problems
relating to the lives of humans may be solved by science and its research,
which can also provide us with new energy sources, mineral reserves, medicines,
and effective anti-terrorist defenses. Future tragedies can be easily predicted
thanks to scientific knowledge, saving humanity. Only science can guarantee
that we are traveling through time securely. As a result, the author has
numerous reasons to believe that scientific inquiry represents humanity's best
chance at surviving.