Every year, the Braude College of Engineering, located in Karmiel in northern Israel, hosts a conference showcasing the
research of its staff with emphasis on the application of technology in
industry. As it involves many disciplines, each with its own approach and terminology,
much of the audience, at best, only partially understands the lectures, notwithstanding the best efforts of the speakers. Yet, even that blurry glimpse is a worthwhile effort. The lectures provide hope for the future of humanity, demonstrate that cooperation is the key to success and enrich the
listener.
The presentations ranged over a wide range of topics, generally of a narrow aspect. Of particular interest for me was the lecture on the
connection between oxygen in the atmosphere, which is found in many large Earth-like/small
Jupiter planets in other galaxies around us. The lecturer discussed the conditions under which natural chemistry, not living beings, may create this oxygen.
Another researcher broke down the benefits and challenges of using wastewater from the desalination process of underground water to grow certain types of
fish in pools, including the potential use of the almost completely pure
calcium produced as a byproduct. One biotechnologist is researching a process
to temporarily block brain pathways created in children due to an infection of
their mothers during pregnancy, which can trigger anxiety and depression during
adolescence. These are merely a drop in the ocean of the subjects discussed
during the conference.
One of the common themes was the interdisciplinary
nature of all the research. In other words, no one set of knowledge is
sufficient to treat any question. All of the researchers reached out and work
with experts in other fields, including chemistry, biology, physics and
mathematics. This synergy led to alternative ways to solve problems and the
ultimate success of the studies. No man is an island nor can any scientist
succeed alone.
As for the listeners, sometimes hearing words but not
understanding them and seeing formulas that mean almost nothing, it was a valuable
experience. First, it created a ense of wonder, just like a kid looking through a
microscope for the first time. There is a feeling of discovery of something
that had always been there but was unknown. It created hope, seeing that so many people are
striving to solve the big and small problems of the world, each contributing
his/her part. Finally, the realization of how much we don’t know creates
humility, keeping us open to the new, an important part of staying young. As
little as I understood much of the science, the conference greatly enriched me
as a teacher of engineers that will carry on this search for a better world.
In Heisenberg’s uncertainty theory, the more observers
focus on location, the less they can identify direction and vice versa. The
Braude conference, as in every year, was a celebration of people focusing on
small details and striving to fully grasp them with the hope that another
person can use that information to enhance another aspect until a clear picture
appears. This research may sooner or later change people’s lives and has
already affected those who attended the conference.
