Governments advised to invest in science for intrinsic interest

An investment in science for the sake of intrinsic interest, rather than actual investment, is key for any real human development, said world renowned scientist Dr. Brian Greene on the opening day of the World Government Summit, WGS 2017, in Dubai today.

Dr. Greene, an acclaimed particle physicist, cosmologist, Professor of Physics and Mathematics and Director of the Centre for Theoretical Physics at Columbia University, offered some stunning examples to validate how such an attitude will help in the context of the modern world in the long-term.

Speaking at a session entitled, 'How Advanced Science Shapes the Future of Government', Professor Greene highlighted examples such as the Gravitational Wave Observatories in the USA and the Hadron Collider in Geneva, as well as a ‘double slit’ experiment conducted some 90 years ago to demonstrate how human life continues to benefit from mankind’s "deep yearning to understand the universe".

Professor Greene urged governments to adopt a supportive and progressive culture to science, as he said, "If you follow any chain of disruption back to its source you will inevitably run into fundamental, basic science. It is not pursued for investment but for intrinsic interest. The real fuel for growth is an investment in basic science. It creates a pervasive culture of innovation. It distinguishes countries that will follow and those that will lead."

Pointing out some of science's biggest achievements and its impact on our day-to-day lives, Professor Greene showed how the famous ‘double slit’ experiment led to the discovery that every particle has a wave like quality. "This discovery allowed us to then build integrated circuits, a breakthrough that informs our everyday modern world through mobile phones and much more," he said.

The World Government Summit, #WGS, has drawn the participation of more than 4,000 personalities from 139 countries around the world, reflecting the leading stature of the summit on regional and international levels and the high interest from governments, global organisations, private and public sector entities, decision makers, entrepreneurs, academics and university students as well as scientists and innovators. The summit features 150 speakers across 114 sessions that highlight the world’s most pressing challenges and showcase the best practices and cutting-edge solutions to deal with them.