Opinion | Bringing Science to Life (Science for Peace and Development)

“Science is the key that unlocks the doors of knowledge, development and understanding.”

Science plays a fundamental role in peace-building and development by addressing the root causes of conflicts, enhancing diplomacy, and strengthening international cooperation. Scientific research fosters a greater understanding of complex issues and provides evidence-based solutions that can prevent conflicts and build lasting peace.
Scientific discoveries and technological innovations have the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and healthcare access. Science-driven advancements lead to economic growth, environmental conservation, and improved living standards. We are inspired to harness the potential of science and technology to build a more peaceful, equitable, and prosperous global community. Science, when guided by ethical principles, becomes a force for good, driving progress and ensuring a brighter future for all.

Through scientific research, societies can gain a deeper understanding of complex issues and find evidence-based solutions to conflicts, ultimately fostering peace. Scientific advancements play a vital role in diplomacy and international relations, providing common ground for dialogue and collaboration. Science has changed our day-to-day life. Gone are the days when only the rich could afford the luxuries. Thanks to the spread of globalization and liberalization that all the luxuries are within the reach of man. Today, an average middle class family can afford TV, washing machine, refrigerator, computer, internet, etc. At the turn of the switch a man can witness an event taking place in far-off places. The gifts of science has provided mankind a respite from the severity of nature—heat and cold. Certainly, man’s life today is far easier and comfortable than his predecessors. Advancing and scaling new technologies that minimize hazardous chemicals and waste, make recycling and recovering these wastes easier, and create value from products in their end-of-life stage could radically alter the chemicals and waste conversation, especially for the most affected minorities. However, the success of new and innovative technologies and other adaptive measures depends on their use and application. Open science can help to increase public understanding of these innovations, making cooperation by governments, communities, businesses and organizations more likely.
Scientific findings frequently benefit society through technological and other innovations. Technological innovations may lead to new scientific breakthroughs. Science in everyday life is not limited to cooking or boiling water in our daily lives; large industrial setups that manufacture a range of commodities using various chemical processes are also a part of our daily lives. The omnipresence and uses of science in everyday life can be seen in everything from the usage of fertilisers in farming to the skin cream we used. Meanwhile, chemical engineers have designed procedures for scaling chemical reactions for commercial uses using chemistry’s rules and principles. The chemistry of atoms and molecules is used to make fertilisers, superconducting ceramics, petroleum products, solvents, polymers, soaps, and detergents, among other things. Because science is entirely founded on facts and experiments, it does not change through time; the fundamentals never change. You can see how science is used in almost every part of our lives. Every new technology was founded on scientific principles. Science and technology are mutually beneficial. Science investigates natural occurrences based on facts and develops new technology to make our lives easier. Science has been extremely beneficial to us. Man, as a rational being, has been unusual in his pursuit of environmental issues, which has led to several discoveries in various parts of the world. Science is a term used to describe the study of the environment. Animals, chemicals, the force, the earth, plants, and other subjects are researched in physics, chemistry, and biology, among other branches of science.
Science is extremely important in our daily lives. We use science daily. We get out of bed and apply paste and brush, both of which are provided by science. Science is used in cooking, dining, and clothes, among other things. Baking necessitates a rudimentary understanding of science, and baking appliances such as ovens and microwaves are scientific endowments.

The world has shrunk dramatically as a result of science. In a fraction of a second, you can talk to anyone, anywhere. Telephones, cell phones, and other scientific inventions are all examples. All of these communication media are also available at a very minimal cost. As a result, everything is within reach of the average person.
Science has made a significant contribution in the area of agriculture. Even for planting seeds in fields, machines are available nowadays. Science has created the tractor, thresher, drip irrigation system, sprinkler irrigation system, and so forth. Chemical science also provides all fertilisers. The Green Revolution is responsible for the true success of scientific farming and the use of diverse agricultural technology. New farming irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation, stronger and more resistant herbicides, more efficient fertilisers, and newly created seeds, all contributed to crop more efficient development.

Science has helped to liberate human beings from mindless superstition, combat diseases and contribute to the development of technology needed to sustain our increasingly complex societies. Moreover, science has the potential to be a weapon to fight against poverty and pollution. Science provides us tools to struggle against disease and decay. It also gives knowledge to find more efficient ways to use soil and water resources. Science has the power to transform and improve the lives of people everywhere. It is an essential tool in our hands to work and reach the millennium development goals. The hardship and misery could be lifted with the help of knowledge and application of science. Millions die every year from preventable diseases and war in which negative application of science is done to win the war. Much remains to be done to find workable solutions to the ever-growing demands for energy, food and housing.
Despite the significant strides made in the fields of science and technology, challenges persist. Access to scientific knowledge and resources remains unequal, and the benefits of scientific advancements are not equally distributed. This highlights the importance of international collaboration, equitable access to education, and the responsible use of science for the betterment of all.
Science is a necessary part of daily life. We can’t deny the importance of science and its applications in our daily lives. Everyone should have a basic understanding of science since it makes life easier and expands our minds in many ways.

“Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.”………..A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
(The writer M Ahmad is a regular writer for this newspaper and can be reached at specialachivers78@gmail.com)