Ethics, Technology, and Embracing the 21st Century
In Conversation with Lord Rees
Last week our chair Ilyas Khan hosted Lord Rees for a discussion on Ethics, Technology, and Embracing the 21st Century at the Royal Society. The conversation ranged broadly, from the need for public intellectuals; to the limits of science and what we might never know, and the importance of sincere engagement with both the potential benefits and the potential ills of new technologies; to how science could better engage with politics and society; to four major ‘global mega-challenges’ ahead of us: securing the biosphere, the climate and energy crisis, biotechnology and its implications for us as biological beings, and artificial intelligence. One major theme was that of our ability to think long-term as a society, to build ‘cathedral’-like projects and institutions, that require the patience of multiple generations.
Scientists have an obligation to promote beneficial applications of their work – in changing the world and shaping our lives – and warn against the downsides.
But let’s not forget that basic discoveries and understanding are a prerequisite. So, if we are researchers, seeking to understand the world as well as change it, what are our responsibilities? How can our efforts be optimized? How should we engage with the public and with government? How should we teach and inspire the next generation? And what changes are needed in the organizations where science is done – universities, research labs, and industry? If science is to save us – which surely it can – these are the questions we need to ask.
So ends the first chapter of Martin Rees’ new book, If Science is to Save Us. Published just a few weeks ago, it examines the role of scientists in society, and how we can work together with the wider public for the good of humanity. In doing so, Lord Rees asks us to sincerely consider the above questions, and to answer not just with words, but with our actions too. It’s an urgent and compelling read, and we hope to build Topos as an answer to his call to action.
Last week, we were very fortunate to have Lord Rees himself join us for our inaugural such dialogue, in conversation with our chair Ilyas Khan, on Ethics, Technology, and Embracing the 21st Century. With 50 leaders from across business, industry, government, and academia, and sparked by a keynote exchange between Lord Rees and Ilyas, we had a very engaging evening of conversations about how to build a technological future that reflects our human values.
The conversation ranged broadly, from the need for public intellectuals; to the limits of science and what we might never know, and the importance of sincere engagement with both the potential benefits and the potential ills of new technologies; to how science could better engage with politics and society; to four major ‘global mega-challenges’ ahead of us: securing the biosphere, the climate and energy crisis, biotechnology and its implications for us as biological beings, and artificial intelligence. One major theme was that of our ability to think long-term as a society, to build ‘cathedral’-like projects and institutions, that require the patience of multiple generations.
It was inspiring to have this discussion at the Royal Society, a venerable institution dating back to the 1600s, responsible for innovations such as the first scientific peer-reviewed journal, and where Lord Rees was recently President.
Hosting the first of these discussions is an important milestone for Topos. As we respond to Lord Rees’ call to examine our responsibilities as researchers, we believe that part of our role at Topos is to provide a venue for conversations with leaders across society about the future of science and technology, and how we can democratically work together to ensure our work serves the public. As scientists, we must invite the public into our work, the questions we seek to answer, and the wider implications for society.
To paraphrase one participant of last week’s discussion, while there are indeed mega-challenges ahead of us and it is easy to be fearful of the ways science and technology are shaping the world, we believe Topos can also provide an avenue for hope. This will require new ways of doing science, closer integration with the humanities and social sciences, and a clear focus on how we impact and benefit the public. But ultimately we do believe that fundamental science can play a critical role in bringing about a world where the systems that surround us benefit us all.
