- (In quest of global peace and prosperity)
It is known and recognized that science is the mother that gives birth to engineering. In essence, application of knowledge garnered from such science subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology results in products and/or services that make lives comfortable for human beings globally. It should be highlighted that, from ages, science acting as the bedrock of engineering has evolved, with innate energy, to shape human existence. The pieces garnered from physics, mathematics, chemistry and/or biology when processed appropriately result in delivering products and services making the world to live in comfort and prosperity. It can be seen that there is a byproduct of global peace achieved in the process depending on the context of engagement. A nation that pays little attention to the development of science and engineering is definitely a backward country, and will be considered under developed. Science and engineering are associated with modernity. Hence, nations that are well heeled in science and engineering development boasting of inventions of machines, engines, military hardware, computers, etc., are considered highly ranked or rated. In fact, some of them are referred to as super powers!
All said and done, application of knowledge garnered from both science and engineering is considered as force for improvement in the welfare of developing states or countries that impacts on the citizens’ quality of life. Conversely, the duo of science and engineering are feared by many to be potential contributors to the dehumanization of man and degradation of the environment. In the course of this treatise, details will be given to substantiate this line of thought.
Engineering: Ensuring Peaceful Coexistence Through Application of Science
Engineering deals with the design, building or construction, and use of engines, machines, and structures. Engines and machines are dynamic systems, while structures are static systems. In essence, engineering is about applying ideas to the real world with a view to promote and provide comfort to humanity. This goes a long way to improve quality of life; peace of mind is delivered through application of scientific ideas to solve myriads of problems or challenges confronting our world. One salient and succinct point to bring out of this scenario is that engineering, when rightly exploited, through the detailed processes involving pieces of ideas strewn together delivers products that make life meaningful, remove hardship, accelerate rate of progress, enhance movement of people, goods or services, propel prosperity among humanity and ultimately could be harnessed to usher in global peaceful coexistence.
According to ReliefWeb, a humanitarian information service provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), it is the belief that science and technology are being explored and exploited in managing conflicts globally. Quoting an excerpt of a 2012 publication:
“If you looked at any post-conflict intervention – in Bosnia, Afghanistan, or Iraq, for example – it would be pretty difficult to make the case that science and technology are not being used to manage conflict. Information technology in particular provides a crucial platform for communication, training, election monitoring and many other applications. These technologies are, however, off the shelf. They were designed and built for other applications – either military or civilian – and adapted for conflict management” (January 2012).
Engineering: Exacerbating The Other Side?
It is not every application of science that will positively impact the world we work and live in! For instance, through engagement of engineering, weapons of modern warfare are manufactured. One may argue that these pieces of instrument could be utilized to usher and force in peace by all means. However, these pieces of modern machines and engines are means of mass destruction of lives and properties. In addition, through use of applied science, technologies are developed to manufacture drugs that could be injurious to the human body, though when used with recommended dosage and in the right context, the effect could be positive.
Counting Costs of Conflict Vis-à-vis Conflict Prevention
Habitually, as an individual, this lecturer often says: peace is the absence of conflict or crisis. Globally, maintaining and sustaining peace may be a silent move but could be costly. The on-going Russia – Ukraine war as well as the Israel – Hamas imbroglio are sore points of neighbours deifying disagreement and consequently escalating such into avoidable loss of lives and properties in gargantuan proportions.
Over 100 million have died in the conflicts of the last century, and this century has witnessed up to 60 million displaced by conflicts. According to the United Nations Organization (UNO) and the World Bank (WB), total military spending in 2019, globally, moved up to more than a whopping $1,555 billion. This humongous figure is enough to provide education for children globally for three generations! Moreover, every pound sterling spent on conflict prevention saves over 4 pound sterling for the international community. This is amazing! In essence, to sustain peace, sometimes with the inculcation of intelligence gathering, research inquiry, feedback mechanism, use of information communication technology, etc., economically, the countries of the world work better in delivering good dividends to their citizens irrespective of the context or location.
Conclusion:
As we mark the year 2023 World Science Day For Peace and Development, it is paramount to sound the clarion call to engineers for the need to cooperate and collaborate, across clans, counties, communities, countries and continents, in order to make life comfortable for humanity so that human beings live in peace and harmony with one another irrespective of colour, creed, religion, race and region. In essence, application of science should be geared towards making life meaningful, relaxed, comfortable and enjoyable at the rate that is accessible and affordable by many and so ensure there is no distinct dichotomy between the poor and rich within the same society. To this effect, right usage of engineering processes could result in production of engines and machines that could engender prosperity and quality of life anywhere within the globe. It is doable, and engineers could begin from now to actualize this!
“What is the use of war, it brings destruction, more suffering and pain. I believe that humans have common sense and that our basic human nature is more compassionate.” – The Dalai Lama
In finally concluding this piece, the words of the science pundit and prodigy, Albert Einstein, comes readily to mind. He once succinctly stated: “concern for man himself and his fate (humanity and his fate) should be the concern of all technical endeavours. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.” It is therefore imperative that in the midst of the struggle to be technologically relevant and recognized, countries, globally, in the quest for global peace should tinker along the stand and stake of Albert Einstein in their pursuit of technological innovations and inventions. In the end, as much as we seek the development of more scientifical and engineering advancement, in picking the pieces of science and engineering together in the trajectory towards prosperity, global peace should dictate the pace for scientists and engineers. Thank you for the opportunity to lend my voice on this subject and so share my perspective with this knowledgeable audience.
•Dr. Ekundayo, MNSE, R. Eng., a registered civil engineer, is the Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Oke Bareke, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, and could be reached via email: drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com
•Being lecture delivered on Friday, 10th of November to mark the occasion of the World Science Day for Peace and Development 2023 with the theme: “Building Trust in Science”, organized by the Young Engineers Forum of Nigeria, an organ of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch.
