Basic science: a key to solutions and growth — Part II
Basic science is a strategic point for countries.
Thank you for being here. Did you read the first part? In case not, it is about basic science, how it works, and a couple of ways it can help countries grow. You can read this one anyway; I will go further in the scale of its importance and impact on our lives.
Innovation
Innovation is a consequence of building knowledge. Ideas iteration leads to their modification, expansion, and combination, understanding more complex processes and structures. For instance, after years and years of studying the inheritance of garden peas, scientists understood genetics, and agriculture started using the information.
I will share my personal experience in science. I studied a protein for five years, and, among other things, I needed to increase its resistance. I “mixed” it with another compound, which other scientists have already studied. The combination of both reagents led to a material with different properties, properties that neither of the original reagents had. Other scientists have spent parts of their careers doing basic science and characterising both reagents I used. The advancements I accomplished were possible, in part, thanks to their work.
There are plenty of examples like those mentioned. New ideas are constantly emerging all around the globe, aiming to improve the quality of life for us. Think about, for example, the speed at which communications, smartphones, and artificial intelligence make advances. Through science and its methods, we can understand, learn, solve problems, and innovate in almost every aspect of our lives. Science is what makes our world a modern world.
Economic prosperity and growth
How can science help to grow? Creating knowledge and, consequently, innovating. A developed basic science leads to a greater possibility of successful applied science and problem-solving capabilities.
There is a positive relationship between basic science and growth & development. If we enhance research quality and quantity in maths, engineering, and technology as a country, growth possibilities get bigger. Basic knowledge is what allows significant breakthroughs to happen.
A recent example is the COVID pandemic that affected the world a few years ago. Previously accumulated knowledge in the viral and physiology field -among others- led to the fast development of vaccines, which saved lives.
Sustainable development
Living today thinking about the following generations. If you care about leaving a better world for the next generations, you care about sustainability. The objective is to live today thinking about not compromising the future population’s needs. Given the current resource usage and the impact of our actions on the environment, the necessity to transition towards a more sustainable lifestyle grows daily.
In this way, science plays a crucial role. As said, it helps to understand the problem, the initial step to find a solution. Once the problem is detected, basic science might be the main character to solve it. For sustainable development, science lets us understand the impact suffered by the environment and think about solving the problem or alternatives to manage resources differently.
Reducing pollution, energy consumption, waste production, increasing recycling, and reforestation are some areas we need to work on, and develop new technologies to enhance the general quality of life while taking care of the resources. More challenging and specific objectives include eliminating poverty, facing climate change, solving health problems, and growing renewable energy alternatives.
Extra: The irruption of AI
How do you think AI impacts science? Complex question. They have a two-way relationship, nurturing each other.
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AI is capable of assisting in research. But first, it needs to be trained with vast scientific knowledge. Once trained, it can operate with a high level of accuracy.
AI-science interaction implies three main points to analyse:
· The knowledge to train AI: the foundational stone. The greater the quantity and quality of the information given to the AI, the greater the database to work with and, consequently, the greater the tool potential.
· The user’s wisdom: we must know “how to ask the question”. Despite the quality of the tool, it is still a piece of technology, and we must use it with the proper criteria and background to assess the response obtained.
· The quality of the responses: this aspect relies almost exclusively on previous ones. For a quality tool, ensure it “is filled” with valuable and accurate information and the user is properly skilled.
It could give us fascinating results. Scientists are already using it to understand the viruses’ effects on cells, studying new mutations that cause cancer and defining autism subsets. For instance, halicin and abaucin are antibiotics discovered in the last few years. They have two things in common:
· Both might be helpful against dangerous resistant bacteria.
· Both were identified through AI.
These are only a few examples of how artificial intelligence works with the scientific community. AI is only going to grow and the key is to feed it with appropriate information.
We must adapt and use it; there is no point in struggling against it, but we must do that with wisdom.
Science is not the only area a developing country has to focus on to grow, but is a factor that, if developed, could enhance every other important aspect.
References
Basic science linked to faster economic growth
Knowledge creation and economic growth: the importance of basic research
Why basic science matters for economic growth
