Humans are a curious species. They keep looking for the reason behind everything. The reason behind the appearance of the Sun. The reason behind the evolution of creatures. The reason behind the start of our universe. There is only one thing pulling the strings behind all the things humans call miracles: Science. So, if science is the root of every mechanism, every phenomenon, and every invention, harnessing it will lead to substantial growth in the economy of any country by providing it with the security it requires.
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
Science is the foundation of our world, however, speaking from a materialistic opinion, the ideas are not simply enough because there needs to be a way to implement them. Technology could be that way because what was once a want has now become a need.
How can science & technology be a panacea?
Firstly, R&D (research and development) prevents the downfall of economies due to pandemics and diseases. For example, the COVID vaccine was devised after several scientists researched in various fields including molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Although an idea was developed as to how to make the vaccine and how it works, it could not have been made without the LNPs (Lipid nanoparticles) as the technology at work.
These inventions will help bring the economy back from being on the brink of collapse the same way the vaccines saved billions after the pandemic reversed not weeks, not months, not years, but decades of progress on economic development. Apart from helping scientists find cures for all the diseases, science and technology also ensure the discovery of these diseases.
MRI provides intricate yet concise images of every single tissue and organ in the human body using tech but the knowledge of anatomy is required to study these images and obtain conclusions. Consequently, having science and technology ensures that a country remains secure against diseases.
Our world is swimming within the shades of grey. It is difficult to identify what is right and what is wrong; when lines tend to blur, bloodshed tends to occur. To protect countries from others, science and technology are required to improve a country’s military strength.
According to Britannica, there are five divisions of technology in the military: Transport, communications, offensive arms, defense, and sensors. All of the weaponry is built based on the laws and rules of physics and chemistry. What elements are required to make gunpowder? How does momentum relate to the distance at which a gun is kept? How does a tank withstand the pressure of water? How is light used to signal the troops? What electrodes are placed for a sensor to carry out its function? These questions prove the entangled relationship between technology and science and their applications for the security of a nation.
Others might argue that using these technological inventions can result in mass casualties, and rightly so. Nevertheless, it might be crucial to fight fire with fire to protect the citizens. Considering the 2023 Israel-Palestine war as an example, rocket alarms were used to make the citizens aware of the danger incoming.
These alarms may as well have saved millions of lives. Thus, despite the possibility of technology being weaponized, it is necessary for safety. Without the help of military science, whether for offense or defense, Israel or Palestine will not be able to protect their people from danger and harm.
Thirdly, science and technology increase the productive efficiency of a country. In the pre-industrial times, many were employed in the primary sector and this led to underemployment since there were only a few jobs available in the primary sector. With the migration of the labor force into the secondary sector, came the Industrial Revolution and with the help of science, new technological inventions and advancements took place like the use of iron and steel, the use of better energy sources, the invention of the steam engine, and other devices like the radio, the telegraph, and the airplane.
Machines like the internal combustion engine took over manufacturing and acted as a substitute for the secondary sector workers, paving the way to the tertiary sector. As the industrial revolution died down, more were involved in the tertiary sector which enabled them to earn higher wages. Science and technology aided the movement from pre-industrial times to post-industrial times as the machines made by scientific researchers manufactured goods faster than any person could ever. This saved time and effort. Hence, the productive efficiency of a country has increased.
When considering the advantages of science and technology, it is crucial to focus on more than one aspect of their impact. These two factors also affect the environment. Climate change is indefinitely one of the biggest problems faced in today’s society and the window for improvement is closing rapidly. In a couple of years, all that will be left of this green planet will be a barren landscape without a single sign of life.
To prevent this, science and technology must be used to their fullest capacity. Solar panels have been constructed to shift to renewable energy sources, biodegradable plastics are valuable to reduce the use of regular, harmful plastics, and LED lights replaced traditional light bulbs as they consume less power. Using science and technology, countries can reduce the disastrous impacts of global warming and climate change to bring their country one step closer to achieving sustainable development goals.
It is imperative to consider the boons of having science and technology in a world collapsing under the pressure of global warming. Using science and technology, countries can reduce the disastrous impacts of global warming and climate change to bring their country one step closer to achieving sustainable development goals.
Imagine a world where receiving clean water is difficult. Imagine a world where you live in fear of war and look behind your shoulder when crossing the street. Imagine a world where countless die without access to treatment and medication.
That is a world where science and technology are not utilised. Countries living on the verge of collapse are those without proper access to technology and knowledge. Hence, science and technology are a panacea for the growth and security of a nation.
By: Sneha Reddy Mukkamalla
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