Christchurch has been favoured by visits from two titans of the scientific world: Professor Sir Martin Rees and Richard Dawkins.
Dawkins was here first – promoting his latest book, and giving a talk on the origin of life – and how amazing it is. How we have to “give thanks” (to who(m)?), how incredible it is that we are here at all etc. He talked about “A great knob twiddler in the sky” in relation to a God. While his talk was interesting – and there was little I disagreed with – I did think his.. ego and vanity got the better of him. I mean if you want to talk about Bubbling Metaverses and so on – as a substitute for God – fair enough.. but neither he nor any other atheist will come any closer than First Cause than can the rest of us.
So there.
On the other hand – I am just back from hearing Professor Rees talk – and he was simply incredible. He’s the president of the Royal Society of London (the oldest scientific society – celebrating 350 years this year). He has an incredible talent for distilling knowledge and then dispensing it in a way that the rest of us could understand. He was humble, interesting, witty (rather than Dawkins’ often crass / provocative offerings) and supremely passionate about his chosen subject.
It just made me want to go back to university and study astronomy / cosmology – or to quit work and try to find something vaguely useful to do with my life. I mean it seems to me that it’s obvious looking around that there are real pressures on our world and that we all need to do more to help out.
Some articles I have read this week:
- BBC on water
- Presentation on Peak Oil (by Alekett – president of the Association for the study of peak oil)
So I bought Professor Rees’ book Our Final Century: Will Civilisation Survive the Twenty-first Century?.. I’m sure humans will survive- but in what state? Do we have the capacity to be altruistic now – for the future children? What are we doing about the oil & water & population pressures? Or are we just a blip on the history of our planet – and something else is bound to take our place once we wipe ourselves off the map (so why worry?)
I dunno – but I am certainly looking forward to reading the book. He inscribed it for me:
I hope that this book is too pessimistic
I think hope is wonderful, but perhaps it’s well beyond time to think about how to act.
Maaike
March 23, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I vote for quitting your job and going back to uni to study something you are really passionate about…
If you do, you might learn why I always use the word ‘passionate’ in my cover letters…
I dare you…
Sjoerd
March 24, 2010 at 9:15 am
Downside to being passionate means you’re a workaholic.
Patrick
March 24, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Yes, you have kinda hit ye olde nail on ye olde head there.
Nick
March 24, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Why would you need to go back to uni? You’re already an engineer.
Agree about quit your job and do something valuable/useful – but you’ve got the skills for that already I’m sure. Start hunting for the application. If you could sort out food/water I’d be much obliged. Suggest you read up on seawater greenhouses – very cool (no pun intended).
Where are you gonna travel on your trip over thiswaywards? Would be good to see you.
Professor dude sounds like a legend. Love the inscription. Not a big fan of Dawkins anymore, he spends a bit too much effort making sure everyone knows how crazy smart he is. Did you see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGgpGLxLQw
Nick
March 24, 2010 at 10:56 pm
You Irish already have the right idea on water anyway.
Problem: Not enough water for food production
Solution: Eat more potatoes.
Nick
March 24, 2010 at 10:59 pm
On Dawkins – I can understand his attitude to an extent. I’d be pretty frustrated if I’d had to put up with idiot arguments (which will inevitably constitute 99% of the total arguments he faces) for as long as he has.
Simone
March 27, 2010 at 2:42 pm
You can be passionate about work and play, they tend to balance stuff out. I like my work but do not – by any stretch of any imagination – work too hard. Might pull a weekend.. say once a year. :) I’m with Maaike, if there is something you want to study just do it, being happy is of primary importance.
Probrem
August 31, 2010 at 10:02 am
Dawkins is like a thorn in a thumb when it comes to discussing biology. Anytime he discusses something, he throws in the “religion is evil” topics. That’s why I prefer Rees. He talks about his field, nothing more, nothing less. And he’s fun to listen to.