【Flyer小组习作】Issue 69-7.15

MaryWongUID: 2619999

TOPIC: ISSUE69 - "Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development"
WORDS: 502
TIME: 00:45:00
DATE: 2010-7-15 23:31:46

Considering the inherent nature of science, no one would argue that one should keep passion and interests on science then it is possible to get progress. Therefore, it refers to personal specific interest on science.
When it comes to interest of individual, it is tempting to think that public power especially government should not disrupt the process of scientific research. In deed, in today's technology-driven society, many scientists are making their best to offer more contribution to the field of science. One needs look no further than the 2010 Shanghai Expo which is the platform of most fruit of humanity's scientific research recent years. Cool circumstance in buildings without air condition, LED light shining allover the garden, as well as various machines motive by solar energy are all the exhibition of scientists' wonderful imagination and prosperous development of technology without suppressing.

Yet, no suppressing does not indicate that in the field of science there is no need to place any restriction. If we cast a look back on the early days when science usually has a mystic veil on itself, the example of synthesis of drugs immediately come to mind. At that time, people have little awareness of the harmful consequence of the existence of super power drug, which could make people badly addict to it. Scientists who research the effective part of Opium intimated the structure of Opium to synthesis the drug called Heroin, which is the horrific killer of thousands of people. Consider if at that time government has strongly set a regulation or law that ban any drug which has potential harmful effect to be published, there would have been less break families and less loss of victims of Heroin.

Moreover, scientific researchers sometimes need the help and regulation from government. As for the scientific research usually undergoing in universities' laboratories and institutions, adequate funds are important for the researches destiny. Here government plays a critical role in supporting the progress of research which would be very costly due to unpredictable strategies. In addition, sometimes the consequences after the publishing of the result of scientific research are not a straightforward issue. It is not hard to understand when we look back to the moment when technology of clone is published. The Bill Clinton administration calls for a special panel to discuss the necessary restrictions should be added to this new technique, for scientists only may be not able to consider all the possible disastrous consequence occurred later. In this respect, to prevent the harvest of scientists' endeavor to be harnessed by somebody who wants to disorder the society, the scientific research and development need government's regulation and restriction.

In sum, it is necessary for government to regulate research and development on science due to the significant meaning of it. Because there may be someone misuse this intellect tool of science in human history to harm the society and the world. Despite suppressing on the freedom of scientific research, the cooperation of government and scientists on the development of society would be welcome.