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Past EMBL Forum Lectures |
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2003 |
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| 22 May 2003 |
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| Two EMBL scientists are in a boat on an African river, one of them |
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Emmanuel Reynaud and Jez Simpson, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Should
scientists limit themselves to their laboratory and little
circle of expertise, or can life outside be as rewarding as
the one in the Life Sciences? Taking as a starting point a
personal experience of two EMBL scientists driving through
Africa to set up a health centre for 35,000 people, we will
present and discuss the questions and problems encountered
along the way. Scientists are often considered too inward
looking, but why can't they utilise their skills for humanitarian
action, and help solve larger problems than those encountered
every day at the bench? Indeed are scientists capable of seeing
beyond their expert knowledge and are they able to adapt this
to unfamiliar situations? So, what can a molecular biologist
do without restriction enzymes, pipettes and more critically
running water? Knowledge is not only what you use on a daily
basis in your scientific life but is the result of many years
of schooling, and its true value can be easily underestimated
– indeed many African societies have never had such privileges.
Problems relating to running water for example, can often
be solved by more than one solution, and therefore an adaptable
scientist has the potential to unlock a number of problems
for any given community. Moreover, encountering other countries,
societies and mentalities in turn rewards the scientist, allowing
these experiences to enhance his own scientific life. This
talk will be presented as an open seminar allowing discussion
and questions to share experiences and opinions. |
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