Ramón Núñez, disseminator: “He who lives a life based only on rationality will have a very bad time” | Science | EUROtoday

Ramón Núñez (A Coruña, 78 years previous) is without doubt one of the nice disseminators of science in Spain, particularly as a designer of scientific museums. He created the three of his hometown: the House of Sciences, the Domus and the Aquarium Finisterrae. He was additionally promoter and director of the National Museum of Science and Technology, and has suggested in different areas devoted to creating the scientific firm enticing and comprehensible, such because the Pamplona planetarium or the Prince Felipe Sciences Museum in Valencia. In Madrid and one other scientific middle, the National Museum of Natural Sciences, not too long ago introduced its newest ebook. It’s about The calendar of the historical past of sciencea sort of almanac that day by day of the yr gives the historical past of a discovering or occasion associated to science or expertise that occurred on that date.

Núñez considers that this ebook – a very good instrument to grow to be acquainted day-to-day with a lot of the scientific discoveries of historical past and with its protagonists – is their finest work. In a dialog with the nation previous to the presentation of its scientific calendar, this museologist and disseminator displays on the facility of science to vary the world and the way vital it’s on a day -to -day foundation; But by no means alone, however accompanied by ethics and going out to fulfill poetry, artwork and philosophy. Since his first stage as a college trainer, Núñez has all the time refused to interchange religion in God by religion in science; Today, he tries to demystify and humanize it, additionally criticizing that through the pandemic it was used as an authority argument: “Science cannot be used as an infallible argument to justify policies.”

Ask. Science is typically handled as a supply of curious tales, and in newspapers it was included within the so -called comfortable sections, however there may be nothing extra transformative.

Answer. Science shouldn’t be solely polymorphic, however it’s versatile. Science is a cause for enjoyable, of illustration, so long as it permits us to achieve the information of the setting and once we get the information of one thing, we are able to already play with that one thing. In that sense, science with tradition can enable us that sport, however it is usually the engine of progress. The strongest there may be, in accordance with [Francis] Bacon Science is what makes our high quality of life change, it’s what improves our well being, improves our communications, improves our potentialities of socialization, all the pieces.

It is a stereotype to say that individuals once we become older are skeptical and that we don’t imagine in something. Well, on the finish of life, I imagine in one thing and I imagine in science. I imagine that science may be very helpful and essential to the person and society. It is helpful to know the world, to dwell in steadiness with the setting and is helpful to vary the world. Now, in the event that they inform me: “science is enough,” no. It is critical, however it’s not sufficient. In addition to science, we’d like love. Love to our fellow males, love of humanity, love of the planet. Science alone with out values ​​shouldn’t be value.

P. But science and expertise additionally trigger critical issues for folks, as seen within the industrial revolution.

R. The ethical-moral choices are posteriori. We uncover the knife and we see that it’s helpful for consuming after which we uncover that it’s helpful to kill a fellow man. And then we introduce the moral code. Ethics or laws go after achievement, as a result of it’s a situation of the long run to be unpredictable.

P. Does synthetic intelligence give vertigo?

R. It offers me genuine vertigo. When I take into consideration this, I’m very comfortable to have lived the years I lived as a result of I had the sensation that I might mentally management my world. My solely hope is that younger folks, who’ve been educated in one other rhythm of progress and information, even have the talents to manage these weapons which can be so highly effective. But they provide me vertigo. I do not say concern, however vertigo.

P. IA is meant to permit creating new supplies extra shortly, creating new medication to deal with ailments and facilitate life in each method. And but, we’re very afraid.

R. Because being too highly effective, a smart individual must be afraid.

P. In his final ebook he says that, earlier than Foucault’s pendulum demonstrated the rotation of the earth, it was already principally accepted that revolved on herself as an alternative of pondering that it was the solar that revolved across the earth by instinct, though it had not been confirmed. Do we imagine rather a lot in science with out figuring out why?

R. When I gave programs in science to lecturers, I raised a sport during which I used to be a shepherd they usually needed to persuade me that it’s the earth that revolves across the solar, and never vice versa. No one ever managed to persuade me. So if a child raises you in school that you don’t imagine that roll that you’re telling it that it’s the earth that revolves across the solar, what do you do? Do you punish him as a result of you may’t put your religion? No, it’s important to respect and worth his crucial spirit and take into consideration the arguments that you could persuade him.

P. Did hurt to science the use that was made throughout pandemia, when used to justify political choices?

R. He damage science as a result of it was used as an argument of authority. That is why it appears to me that it is very important demystify. There is a phrase by Richard Feynman that claims that “science is to believe in the ignorance of scientists.” In the ebook many occasions I attempt to take issues as a joke, demystify science and humanize it. Science is made by human beings, who’ve their vices and their virtues and their whims. You can not use science as an infallible argument to justify insurance policies, to say: “We are going to do this because science sends it.”

P. How do you see the scenario of science in Spain?

R. We have advanced that we aren’t succesful and that’s false. That is, we’re as succesful as every other folks. We needed to spend extra, however that is apparent, I need not say it.

P. There is one other occasion of the ebook during which he speaks of the encounter between Einstein and the thinker Bergson, who defended that there was a subjective time past that measured by physicists. It is a really attention-grabbing story concerning the energy and limits of science.

R. There is a confucio phrase that claims nothing occurs quicker than the years. And it’s true, as a result of there are minutes that appear everlasting and years that fly you. There is a notion of time that’s intimate, which is private. Waiting occasions are gradual and there are different occasions that spend very quick. But in fact, Einstein has to inform you that each one these are tales. Because for the time being of fact, the one actual time is what might be measured. But science can not deny poetry. It could be silly to dwell with out poetry, with out magnificence. Art is critical, similar to science.

P. What do you consider the skeptical motion, which seeks a confrontation between materialism and individuals who thought that metaphysics might be helpful?

R. Pure materialism may be very helpful to resolve lots of issues, however we nuance. I’ve a really rational individual, however in my life, the selections which have offered me with extra pleasure had been very irrational. Today I ate, splendidly, however in a little or no rational method, as a result of I had an extreme deed of triglycerides, ldl cholesterol, alcohol … an necessary determination in my life, comparable to getting married, was primarily based on falling in love, and falling in love is of all the pieces however rational. The determination to review some topics has needed to do with my finest buddy. He who lives a life primarily based completely on rationality could have a really unhealthy time.

P. How can science be defined to youngsters and younger folks with out giving it as a catechism?

R. For me, the secret’s to take the kid from the hand and look in the identical path. If you ask a query, you do not have to reply. The youngster can not have the concept that the grownup is a solution manufacturing unit. You have that will help you look to seek out the reply. It is, as an alternative of dealing with one another, to reply, placed on his aspect to ask him with him and be channeling. And not fear as a result of a query generates extra questions.