Introduction
Science has performed a pertinent position in shaping our cutting-edge society. Throughout the path of history, the position of science has stepped forward from mere experiments to revolutionary and brand new discoveries that are unexpectedly propelling us into the future.
Much of this development comes from embracing the contributions science has had on the broader elements of society and how it has inevitably formed our economic, political and cultural landscape. As the theme for LIYSF 2019, science at the interface encourages us to do precisely that, reflect on consideration on science no longer as an character subject, however as a unified and collaborative discipline. If you would like to choose science as a career path visit Cognitive & Information Sciences – UC Merced:
A self-automated Zipline drone flying over a village in Rwanda, Africa
Combining extraordinary disciplines, such as technology, engineering and medicine, lets in us to suppose backyard the box, and attain new frontiers in our lookup and technology. An instance of this idea in motion is the employer ‘Zipline.’ This initiative makes use of a pre-programmed drone transport machine to transport clinical materials to nearby hospitals in components of Africa. The affect of Zipline is viewed no longer solely via the 13,000,000 human beings this enterprise affords pressing scientific elements too however thru its capacity to revolutionize get right of entry to to healthcare in rural areas thru the mixture of engineering and clinical innovation. Here are three different incredible examples of how science and technological know-how have been used to address some necessary problems we face today:
The automation of automobiles has lengthy been a futuristic dream; however, now not for an awful lot longer. These self-driving automobiles may also be broadly handy on the roads of Britain from as these days as 2021. Automation offers higher autonomy and manage for the aged and disabled, and the promise of safer roads thru fewer accidents.
The meat enterprise performs a contentious function in contributing to local weather change, predominantly thru greenhouse gas. With the developing consumption of meat, scientists are working on lab-grown steak as a way of making this demand for meat extra sustainable. A procedure of mobile agriculture is used, which is when cells from an animal are used to develop animal muscle tissue and replicate meat inside the laboratory.
Nanogirl is a social business enterprise that promotes science and science and advocates for equal possibilities inside this vicinity for all younger people. Dr. Dickinson, each a scientist and engineer from New Zealand, wishes to use storytelling as a way of bridging the hole between science and communication, a frequent barrier for human beings in attractive with science.
The 61st London International Youth Science Forum: “Science At The Interface”
The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) is an annual event held at Imperial College London for young scientists from across the world to meet and learn through lectures and labs from leading scientists. For two weeks, the cohort live together as an international community to travel, learn and exchange ideas. I attended the LIYSF 2019; in this article I will discuss my experience of the event.
History of LIYSF
In 1959, the world was still gripped in the aftermath of the Second World War. As well as the lingering effects that we commonly learn about in history class – the destruction of cities, the crumbling economies, the physical and psychological effects on people who lived through it – the war also had a severe effect on scientific communities across the world, with distrust and animosity preventing science from being collaborative and communicated effectively.
To combat this, Philip S. Green set up the LIYSF under the patronage of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.[1] They aimed to build bridges across Europe in the next generation of scientists: \’out of like interests the strongest friendships grow\’. Over half a century later, the LIYSF is now truly international and becoming more accessible to students from across the world. For example, Young Scientists for Africa and other charities help to expand its reach by providing scholarships for students to travel and attend the event.[2]
LIYSF 2019
This year’s conference, themed \’Science at the Interface\’, demonstrates how we need to work together with other scientific disciplines, businesses and governments to make a positive impact on society.
A vibrant flash of colour, the flag ceremony (see Figure 1) was championed by 75 representatives from countries across the world, from American Samoa to Zimbabwe. At the front of the theatre, students from a range of disciplines, backgrounds and cultures took their seats.
Figure 1 – the flag ceremony opening the LIYSF 2019
HRH The Princess Royal opened the preceding with a call for the attendees to “immerse yourself in the experiences offered and embrace each moment.” She set the tone for the next two weeks of young scientists from around the world to get involved in scholarly debate, run their own experiments and learn from nobel prize winners.
Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
The first speaker of the forum was Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan. President of the Royal Society, he has travelled across the world, from India to Ohio to Cambridge, UK, whilst undertaking his work. This dedication contributed to him being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 as part of the team responsible for studying the structure and function of the ribosome.[3] This is the real powerhouse of the cell, responsible for making proteins essential for life. This knowledge allowed the development of antibiotics which disrupt bacterial ribosome activity, so prevent the bacterial population infecting the body from growing and surviving.
Today, his work may help to resolve antibiotic resistance, a major issue in medicine at the moment: this is when bacteria mutate to be resistant to antibiotics, so they will survive and continue to infect the body. When antibiotics are used, this acts as a selection pressure, so those strains of bacteria with resistance are more likely to survive and pass on the mutated gene, so resistance will become more prevalent in populations.[4] You may have recently seen advertised campaigns to always complete your course of antibiotics, or to only take them when necessary. This is to prevent antibiotic resistance from becoming more common!
Ramakrishnan’s work has allowed science to progress further, with molecular biologists, physiologists, staticians and those working in marketing and public outreach all working together to solve this issue. Real science at the interface, requiring policy makers, scientists and the general public to make a change.
The LIYSF has always encouraged dreamers to go out into the world and do good. The LIYSF has brought young scientists together and inspired them to work with people from across borders and across disciplines: if we work together, we could soon be at the forefront of science.
References
- “History of LIYSF”, LIYSF, accessed September 20, 2019, URL: https://www.liysf.org.uk/about-us/history-of-liysf
- “Our Mission”, Young Scientists for Africa, accessed September 20, 2019, URL: http://dev.yosa.org.uk
- “Venkatraman Ramakrishnan”, Nobel Prize, accessed September 20, 2019, URL: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2009/ramakrishnan/biographical/
- “About Antibiotic Resistance”, Antibiotic Research, accessed September 20, 2019, URL: https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/about-antibiotic-resistance/
Figure References
\”LIYSF 2019 Gallery”, LIYSF, accessed September 20, 2019, URL: https://www.liysf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/l1040069-1.jpg
Biography
Yosef Mechti is a 17 year old student from London studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths with an interest in Medicine and Neuroscience. He enjoys playing the piano and drama in his spare time. His EPQ has led him to research the effect of drugs olaparib and temozolomide on GBM brain tumours. This new chemotherapy treatment may be able i§mprove the prognosis of patients with fewer side effects.