LONDON -- Scientific and technological research and development have contributed significantly, particularly in the last century, to our understanding, health and general well-being.
Everyone needs a basic scientific and technical education. Unfortunately many of the older generation never learned or were never given the opportunity to acquire a proper appreciation of scientific methods and thinking and have either decided that such knowledge is unnecessary or been forced to try to comprehend scientific achievements without the necessary background knowledge.
Sometimes this has led to misapprehensions or doubts about scientific analyses and conclusions. Such mistaken views can be damaging to our own interests. The damage has often been increased by the way in which scientists have sometimes made claims about scientific discoveries that cannot be substantiated. Scientific arrogance has badly damaged the image of some aspects of modern scientific research.