Joseph A. Burton Forum Award Talk: Science and Subversion -- Experiences from Pakistan

How may one exorcise the twin demons that plague human society: irrational beliefs derived from faith, and of violence and militarism? The hope for a better future goes something like this: if a society is convinced that it must develop science because it wants technology, then the teaching of science is allowed even in societies where the scientific method is not wholly welcome. Therefore, because critical inquiry is its basic tool, science can be a Trojan Horse that silently subverts and ultimately helps to win the battle for secular humanism and peace. To what extent are such hopes realistic? I shall draw upon my experiences in Pakistan to argue that good science teaching may indeed be our best bet. The battle for a peaceful, non-nuclear world will also require both a greater public understanding of science, and a commitment to work against prejudices induced by religious faith and nationhood.