Rowena Kong

Rethinking Science, Research and Technology Rowena Kong

We are now in an age of booming science and technology where their influence pervades almost every area of our lives. How do we make sense of it all? Is it possible that science, research, and technology, in all their amazing glory and capabilities, can set an invisible constraint on and limit the potential of our creativity and appreciation of the beauty of life? We may be the 21st century masters of technology, but are we the masters of happiness and our fundamental autonomy? Our implicit perspective of the ongoing high-paced acceleration of scientific and technological development has a place in cautioning their subtle increasing demands and control placed over our daily routine, health and well-being. Research is also increasingly garnering the attention of academics and the public. With an unprecedented surge in the amount of studies being carried out round the clock in post-secondary institutions, a question arises as to whether such trend mirrors our overutilization of research and its resources. Perhaps, it is about time to step back and subjectively weigh both the benefits and costs of the current trend of our growing reliance on such unprecedented sophistication and advancement.