4th EucheMs chemistry congress

Monday, 27-Aug 2012
s619
chem. Listy 106, s587–s1425 (2012)
Education and History, Professional chemists Ethics, Employability, labels
Ethics and Employability of Professional Chemists – i
o - 0 1 3
ethiCS And CheMiStry
h. frAnK 1
1 University Bayreuth, Environmental Chemistry, Bayreuth,
Germany
Cultural development and chemical activities have always
been associated with each other; mastering the conversion of
matter by controlled use of energy, the Promethean gift, meant
progress in humanity. All pre-historic and historic eras were
associated with new chemical abilities: from the earliest phases
of “unconscious chemistry”, e.g. of improving the palatability of
food or of creating useful materials such as ceramics and metals,
followed by a phase of “intuitive chemistry” conventionally
referred to as the era of alchemy, until the mechanistic-analytical,
intellectual “scientific chemistry” emerged after Paracelsus and
Descartes. The historical path of chemistry culminated in the
tremendous scientific advances of the 20th century, a story of the
devotion of protagonists - but also of failures, controversies, and
catastrophes. Nevertheless, it is exemplary for the power of
internationalism, freedom-mindedness, and interdisciplinary
thinking of those who were active – a success story. On the other
hand, accidents and environmental problems also showed that we
need, in order to progress, a more comprehensive, necessarily
ethical understanding of the chemist’s activities. Chemists make
chemicals – so they are responsible for them. If not, who else?
Lawyers? Politicians? Economists? Obviously, in order to
understand the whole truth, methods for the synthesis of the
puzzle in front of us are required, i.e. the development of a holistic
view. The technical prerequisites are emerging with the Internet.
The main barrier is the too strongly competitive mind between
those who are practicing science today. The challenge for the
future is to develop the philosophy and psychology, to envisage
the ideal of global fraternity/sorority, so the next generations are
able to implement their full potential in cooperative modes. This
way, the chemists (and other scientists) have the chance to
outgrow from a magician’s apprenticeship to become true masters
- largely a matter of education in science ethics.
Keywords: Ethics; education; Chemoinformatics; History;
Future;
4 th EucheMs chemistry congress
Ethics and Employability of Professional Chemists – i
o - 0 1 4
the MAn And the ProGreSS of CiviLizAtion.
who Are we And where Are we GoinG?
B. BuSzewSKi 1
1 Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics,
Chair of Environmental Chemistry & Bionanalytics, Torun,
Poland
For many years, considering various philosophical trends
and by acting in ecosystem we ask ourselves a weighty question:
what is the environment? What is the universalism? What is the
relationship between the progress of civilization and attitude of
nowadays man, scholar, teacher? In a one word what is the
reaction between these entities?, And how a man may find himself
in this Space. Answer is not simple and its complexity does not
simplify us to interpret of these phenomena, for using various
types of arguments and facts that we are trying to use in
interpretation of that relationship. Yes, one can recall the great
names and attitudes of the world, from Confucius, by Aristoteles,
Plato, Copernicus, Humboldt, Sklodowska-Curie or Czochralski,
however these asked questions will be open to question and to
individual interpretation.
Similar question to ask yourself: “What chemistry copies of
nature? How it can be used for the civilization progress?” And in
this case we will not get a straight answer, on contrary, many
factors will pose a problem in precise determiniation of positive
arguments relationship. Because if it is, why and for what
purpose? Still, there will be an open question Quo Vadis sciences,
Quo Vadis life sciences? Is today, by the progress of civilization
and the rush towards the innovation, need a man - an interpreter?
Versatile scholar? What is the relationship such as master - pupil
and if the explanation of concepts in the context of sustainable
development gives us a sufficient dose of information and
satisfaction? This applies particularly to the attitude, behavior and
seek of answers by nowadays educated man. Who we are and
what we want to achieve through learning, activity, creativity and
ambition?
These issues will be the subject of my discussion in the
context of human-science-ethics-the progress of civilization and
sustainable development.
Keywords: man; science; civilization;
AUGUst 26–30, 2012, PrAGUE, cZEcH rEPUbLIc