Assignment #3

Writing something about science? I was little worried about the research paper assignment because I had never written a 10 pages of essay. Also, I wasn't sure if my knowledge in science was enough to provide a creative argument or finding. But after given five topics to choose, my anxious was eased. The topics are all interesting!


I'm especially interested in "historical research on a scientists" and "science and technology: promise and peril."

Richard Feynman is my favorite scientist. I was inspired by his autobiography Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman! I was deeply intrigued by his character, full of enthusiasm, loving and compassion, that changed my stereotyped image of a scientist. He is a real humanity person who also happen to be scientist. While he is well known for a Nobel Prizer for quantum electrodynamics, I'm more interested in his great contribution to the improvement of atomic bomb. As I was born in Hiroshima, an atomic bomb is such a devastating technology. In fact, even today, it has still caused tensions between countries and destroyed nature and lives. Before reading his autobiography, I thought that the scientist who helped this evil invention must have no love and respect for life. So I was shocked when I learned that Feynman was a great humanistic person who loved people and life so much, and that his true curiosity for life just turned out to be an advanced atomic bomb. I would love to research how did he feel about his discovery later and stories behind it. 


The another topic,"science and technology: promise and peril," is something I really want to know. The topic is strongly related to our everyday life although we don't have much chance to see it unless we try. It is difficult not to take technology for granted. Since I was born, TV, washing machine and car were already there. Also, every time when a new device, such as I phone, was introduced, we were excited about a new cool technology for a second, and then next second, we were impatient of getting a newer and cooler one. Before making a line to buy a new I phone 4, how many people thought about the cost for it to come to our hands? As I benefit technology, my life stands on great sacrifices and exploitations. I think it's my responsibility or even obligation to know how my life affects other lives. Yet, we can't fully deny science and technology. We need to commute, travel and be connected people faraway. Science and technology are deeply embedded in our lives. I would love to learn how they have developed our lives. Today, so many parts of life are digitalized and mechanized, and it is almost overwhelming to keep up with all these changes. I'm especially very slow to absorb contemporary technologies, so I would love to research how much they offer, and obtain a motive to utilize them.


I found that above two topics are very interesting and beneficial to learn. At this moment, I'm thinking to go for the second topic that is about positive side and negative side of science and technology. For the Facebook and Twitter generation, we need to know both side of science and technology. This would give us an integrated perspective about science and technology to achieve a right attitude, not fully awed and not entirely believing, toward them. 

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