Summary:Some of the world′s toughest scientific and medical problems, from global warming to obesity, will require a considerable research effort — and the public′s understanding and support, a group of Nobel laureates said at the conference′s closing session.
Just as we sent Americans to the moon, so, too, we can cure cancer, heart disease and other ills through a major commitment of funds and resources, panelists said.
But for that to happen, the scientific community must help the public understand the benefits of such research investment. In other words, they must persuade the public it′s worth the money. Each of the Nobel laureates had his own idea of what research can accomplish.
Louis Ignarro talked about the need for research into heart disease. Paul Boyer touched on the possibilities of research on aging. And Walter Kohn and Steven Chu spoke of the need for research into alternative energy sources.
"We should be concerned about using up all the nonrenewable resources we have," said Chu, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997. "Eventually, things will run out."
The important place of research in helping solve the world′s problems — and scientists′ responsibility to communicate that to the public —was a recurring theme of the session.
Boyer, for example, talked about the public′s fear of genetically altered food, which he said is based on misinformation about the benefits of such engineering.
"Genetically altered foods are not harmful per se," he said. "There are some who don′t want to understand the science."
Michael Milken and Ignarro pointed to the issue of obesity and its causes, such as an increase in fast-food consumption, and the need to educate the public on the issue.
"Obesity is increasing not only in this country, but other countries," Ignarro said. "We need to make the public much more aware of dietary problems and the foods we eat."
Other issues touched upon included population growth, energy consumption, cloning and global warming.
