Talk focuses on science's future

Looking into a "crystal ball," National Science Board Chairperson Mary Good predicted last night that the future of science holds promising developments but called for a greater emphasis on science education in public schools. Speaking before 150 people at the Chemistry Building, Good spent the majority of her hour-long speech detailing major factors that should influence the future of chemically-based technology and emphasized some potential breakthroughs. "I believe that over the next 20 years, the major drivers for change will be the global environment, population growth, the need for economic energy sources and global markets," she said. "Molecular science is going to play a huge, huge role in many of these issues." Good projected that new uses for chemical technology by the year 2010, such as levitating high-speed trains, need to be developed now to help the field grow. However, she added that the ultimate goal of chemically-based technology should be to convert the earth's excess carbon dioxide and water into needed fuels and oxygen. She emphasized though that attracting enough qualified students to the study of science, and not the limits of technology, poses the most serious threat to a successful future. "With the beauty, utility and challenge of the science of chemistry, I don't understand why students are not lined up at our door," she said. "We need to make the human part of science and engineering much more appealing." After the speech, audience members praised her speech, saying she presented a clear view of what the future can hold. "I feel her lecture really benefitted us high school students by showing what fields of science will be most useful in the future," said Jerushia Seward, a sophomore at the High School of Engineering and Science in Philadelphia.

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