The BA Holds a Nobel Laureate Round Table as Part of BiovisionAlexandria 2008
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Alexandria—
A Nobel Round table was held on Sunday, 13 April 2008, as part of the BiovisionAlexandria 2008, chaired by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria and speakers were Richard R. Ernst, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1991), Torsten N. Wiesel, Nobel Laureate in Medicine (1981), and F. Sherwood Rowland, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1995).
Nobel Laureates answered attendants’ questions and interventions, and emphasized the social responsibility of scientists towards their societies, while speaking on Einstein who was a defender of international peace.
In answering a question on how scientists from different political and ideological backgrounds cooperate, Wiesel said that Palestinian and Israeli scientists work together in several scientific programs.
Richard Ernst maintained that scientists should not limit themselves to one specialty; they should know little about other branches of science. On the relation between science and religion, Ernst and Wiesel believe that science and religion can coexist and have many things in common, while Rowland disagreed.
Nobel Laureates stated that the sound environment in which they were brought up contributed to their interest in science, in addition to their exploratory nature since childhood. They also mentioned that they were not hard working students, and had diverse interests, including sports, music and others.
Answering a question on the lack of financial spending on science and research compared to spending on weapons and wars, Ernst said that change would be possible on the long run through better education for future generations. Roland pointed out that encouraging students towards science and research should start from primary school.
It is worth mentioning that the BiovisionAlexandria 2008 is a continuation of the tradition that started in BioVision 1999 in Lyon, which aims to bring distinguished speakers in discussions commemorating science and the finest achievements of the human intellect.