Carol's Essay

Topic: Some people ignore basic science today, because they think it is not important anymore while others opposed the opinion. Discuss both views.

In the present age, the issue of basic science is increasingly disturbing. But in the meantime, whether need to learn basic science has sparked much debate. Some people assert that basic science is the foundation which any other subjects are built, while many others argue that is can be ignore. Personally, I am in favor of the former view. Recognised as the chief driving force behind production,science plays a crucial role in human development. Odd enough as it may seem, the significance of basic science is largely ignored by the general public today. So in this essay, it will obtain introduction, support, opposition, argument and conclusion.

Science is really important to a country as well. If that country wants to be more powerful, they have to improve their level of science. Basic science actually lays the foundation upon which any other subjects are built. The false ideas among people should be corrected. The basic science also has a characteristic, its discovery or the new thought that the theory achievement, often in starts, many people did not know the profound intrinsic value, which is contains. But each breakthrough can affect the human understanding and transformation world ability profoundly, finally after the technical transformation, turns humanity's wealth. To achieve this objective, governments should afford scientists compensations and highlight their contribution to society. Meanwhile, scientific research should also be more actively publicized. Through more intensive interaction with the general public, scientists can, hopefully, change the classic stereotypes of "lab animal" and consequently gain the understand and respect they deserve.

It is no doubt that basic science plays a important role in the development of society. However, it also has disadvantages. First of all, basic science such as physics and chemistry has always been shrouded in mystery or secrecy. Their areas of research are highly specialized and their methodology of research are rarely publicized. It involves too much physical and chemical knowledge, so they are complicated, hard to understand and seldom to be used in real life. Therefore, the government only need to encourage those who are interested in, don't let everyone to learn it. Secondly, basic science usually must do experiments, it costs a lot and keep a long time, but it maybe no results. Thirdly, make less money compare with finance trade and more dangers during experiments and hard work. Last but not least, basic science concentrates on the development of theories rather than the design of any specific products for practical use. For that reason, basic science projects hold little attraction to investors and therefore are undervalued.

“The study basic science does not have the future in today's society, it already cannot have the direct economic efficiency, also cannot bring a good work for the student.” Many guardians and the student, even middle school's teacher like this thought. However,the importance of basic science, from the history looked that is very clear. Each time the industry emerges has the direct relations with the basic science development. Only speaking of the 20th century, the development of basic science, the entire humanity science and technology civilization's development by the huge impetus, caused the humanity to move toward the electrification time from the steam engine time, moved toward the information time from the industrialization time. A famous Chinese scientist said “the value degree of a country to the basic science just like to long-term or short-term investment.” （QiuChengTong,2002） Only then focus on the basic science, can forever maintain the independent innovation ability. For example, it will show that it is very difficult for people to imagine how the basic science give the human valuable application achievement. Everybody is already familiar to Internet, and know that now the real world has become the network the world. But, perhaps only the very minority person knew now, the Internet technology is originates from the high energy physics this basic science. Moreover in the time is quite near matter, is apart from now for just 12 years. The development of basic science has the very big relations with the social culture's condition. The time must develop progresses, can not all only speak the money. Engaged in the basic science experiments need to have the money, but what is more important. In order to arouse the value to the entire society of basic science, we should initiate in the young people to take the science, to deeply love the science, joins in the science the spirit. “The whole society should pay attention to the basic science.” In a word, basic science's essence is to reveal the law of motion of objective world, is about the objective world basic rule knowledge system, such knowledge system is the forerunner and the fountainhead of technological innovation. Without the basic science, does not have the technical epoch-making development. Obviously, the independent and innovation of science, the high technology and new technology development, all root in the basic science.

In sum, cause of the ignorance of basic science are manifold. I am convinced that steps, including government efforts and media publicity of scientists, should be taken to address this disturbing trend. Actually, the basic science is useful which aims to solve specific problems. The ignorance of basic science could lead to the loss of applied science’s foundation. Some effective measures should be taken to stop this tendency. First, to attract young people to study basic science, the university should provide more scholarships. The government May work out the new century personnel training plan to train the young talented person. Because each time the scientific challenge, is one group of new people and the new scientists win. Secondly, the university and the government should offer more financial support for basic science. Finally, enterprises should be encouraged to invest in the research project on basic science. Overall, I tend to side with the former view. In my opinion, the attention on basic science is far from being enough. Unless the government and society realize the significance of basic science and adopt proper policies, the situation will be not improved.

Bibliography
Li ZhengDao, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2005-11-08, New century basic research.
http://www.cas.cn/ft/zxft/200511/t20051108_1689619.shtml

XinHua net, 2002-08-16, The basic science could be ignored?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/st/2002-08/16/content_526800.htm