Uskokovíc Vuk
Division of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, University of California, 707 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Found Sci. 2010 Nov;15(1):303-344. doi: 10.1007/s10699-010-9185-8.
In the past few hundred years, science has exerted an enormous influence on the way the world appears to human observers. Despite phenomenal accomplishments of science, science nowadays faces numerous challenges that threaten its continued success. As scientific inventions become embedded within human societies, the challenges are further multiplied. In this critical review, some of the critical challenges for the field of modern chemistry are discussed, including: (a) interlinking theoretical knowledge and experimental approaches; (b) implementing the principles of sustainability at the roots of the chemical design; (c) defining science from a philosophical perspective that acknowledges both pragmatic and realistic aspects thereof; (d) instigating interdisciplinary research; (e) learning to recognize and appreciate the aesthetic aspects of scientific knowledge and methodology, and promote truly inspiring education in chemistry. In the conclusion, I recapitulate that the evolution of human knowledge inherently depends upon our ability to adopt creative problem-solving attitudes, and that challenges will always be present within the scope of scientific interests.
在过去的几百年里，科学对世界在人类观察者眼中的呈现方式产生了巨大影响。尽管科学取得了非凡成就，但如今科学面临着诸多威胁其持续成功的挑战。随着科学发明融入人类社会，这些挑战进一步增多。在这篇批判性综述中，讨论了现代化学领域面临的一些关键挑战，包括：（a）将理论知识与实验方法相互联系起来；（b）在化学设计的根源处贯彻可持续性原则；（c）从一种既承认其实用性又承认其现实性的哲学视角来定义科学；（d）推动跨学科研究；（e）学会认识和欣赏科学知识与方法论的美学层面，并促进真正具有启发性的化学教育。在结论部分，我总结道，人类知识的演进本质上取决于我们采取创造性解决问题态度的能力，而且在科学兴趣范围内挑战将始终存在。
