International Week of Science and Peace:

Bigger role for science in a peaceful world

By Pramod DE SILVA

What is the connection between science and peace? They may not appear to be connected at first glance, but if you think harder, it will be crystal clear: Science can be an agent for peace.

Remember, it is science that has laid the foundation for some of the biggest destructive forces known to man, such as nuclear weapons. On the other hand, it is science that has found cures for some of the deadliest diseases known to man. Thus science can be used for both good and bad. In short, it can be used for war or peace.

But we should aim at a scenario where the endless possibilities of science are used only for the good of mankind, not for its eventual destruction. This is the noble premise behind the International Week of Science and Peace, which would be celebrated around the world this week.

The Science and Peace Week was first observed in 1986 as part of the International Year of Peace. The organisation of events and activities for the week was undertaken as a non-governmental initiative; the Secretariat for the International Year of Peace was informed of the preparatory activities and the final summary of events that occurred during the week.

Based on the success of the 1986 observance, the organisers continued their efforts in successive years. In recognition of the value of the annual observance, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 43/61 in December 1988, which proclaims the “International Week of Science and Peace”, to take place each year during the week in which November 11 falls.

The General Assembly has urged Member States and inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations to encourage institutions, associations and individuals to sponsor events and activities related to the study and dissemination of information on the links between progress in science and technology and maintenance of peace and security; and to promote international co-operation among scientists.

Annual observance

It required the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the activities and initiatives of Member States and organisations in connection with the week.

As the UN points out, the annual observance of the International Week of Science and Peace is making an important contribution to the promotion of peace. The Week encourages academic exchanges on a subject of universal importance while also generating greater awareness of the relationship of science and peace among the public. All can contribute to greater international understanding and opportunities for co-operation in the applications of science for the promotion of peace throughout the year.

The importance of science for world peace and stability gained added significance last week, with the birth of the world’s seven billionth baby. This calls for a massive shift in the way we think and act, especially about fulfilling the needs of the world’s rising population.

I saw a National Geographic documentary recently which revealed that seven billion people can actually fit into an area the size of greater Los Angeles. The argument is that it is not space we need – it is balance. There should be an equitable distribution of resources worldwide for these seven billion people.

But the bitter truth is that equality is still only a dream for most regions of the world. Millions of people including children die each year as a result of diseases which can be cured; millions do not have access to clean water or sanitation; more people have empty stomachs than ever before; school is unknown to millions of children; the world cannot cope with soaring energy demands.

These are just a few of the grim reminders about the state of the world we live in. Moreover, the population is increasing as we write - by 2051, there would be 9.3 billion people on Planet Earth, according to the UN Human Development Report 2011 released last week.

Scientific advancements

But there is no need for despair. While science itself cannot achieve peace, science can help build a better, peaceful world. If the rich world can reduce its conflicts and defence spending even by a fraction, many of these problems can be solved with the help of scientific advancements and the funds thus saved.

We may need to double global food production in the next 40 years to feed an extra two billion people. Food security will thus be one of the biggest problems facing mankind. But with smarter agricultural systems that produce more food using less land and water, this should not be too difficult to tackle.

The other solution is controversial, but it could be the only way out for some countries and communities to ward off hunger: Genetically Modified (GM) food. Plenty of research has shown that most GM food is not inherently dangerous as some believe it to be.

Refusing GM food on that basis alone, as some African countries did recently, may take a lifeline away from communities facing mass-scale hunger. It could be the only route to highly disease-resistant, high-yield crops.

Science can also provide an answer to the energy crunch. The world’s fossil fuel reserves are likely to run out in the next 200-300 years, amidst soaring demand. This is why renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, ocean currents and geothermal power have to be taken more seriously. These make only a minimal contribution to the energy equation right now, but more needs to be done to raise their output.

Again, if certain countries allocate a fraction of their defence expenditure and research facilities for energy research, the world would be a better place. The same goes for research on vaccines for deadly diseases.

Military technologies

One might wonder whether there are any military technologies that have eventually filtered down to civilian use – from war to peace in other words. Indeed there are. This is generally known as the ‘swords to ploughshares’ process.

One prime example is nuclear energy. Although there are enough nuclear warheads to blow us all to smithereens, there are also civilian nuclear reactors which provide power to thousands of households worldwide.

However, in the wake of the Fukushima meltdown incident, scientists have stepped up efforts to make nuclear fusion (the same reaction that goes on in the Sun) a reality.

Here are just a few other examples: Radar, a military technology used to track down enemy aircraft and ships, is now commonly used for civilian applications. Microwaves, a military tech, are now used to heat up food and carry telephone conversations.

The first computers were military codebreakers; jet engines were initially used in fighter aircraft; the Global Positioning System (GPS) on your phone was initially a US military application; night vision, a military technology, is now common in binoculars; thermal imaging has similar civilian uses in cars and boats; Sonar, developed to hunt for enemy submarines, has many medical and civilian (fishing) uses.

Kleenex was originally invented as a military gas mask membrane; Augmented Reality (AR), now common in smartphones, is a military training tool; the first roads were built by the Romans for troop transport. Among the latest military gadgetry waiting to enter the civilian domain are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or pilotless drones for search and rescue work.

Yes, advanced military research can sometimes benefit civilians and have peaceful applications, but that is unfortunately not the original aim. There’s still much more money used for war than peace. This situation has to change now, with science showing the way.