BRITTANY DEAN
Staff Writer
Tuesday night’s Dean’s Lecture Series brought humor to campus in personal anecdotes as well as his opinion on the threats to science and technology today.
Lane named his lecture, “America’s Future in Science and Technology – Some Storm Clouds on the Horizon” in which he not only explained the background of science including Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin’s contributions but also the three main issues that hinder science today: money, people, and public understanding and trust in science. If these areas do not work together then the funding that supports science and technological discoveries will be decreased.
“I definitely agree,” said Pepperdine student Jackai Smith. “I think it is sad that science is being less funded as the years go by. It is important that science be funded to make new discoveries in medicine, technology, etcetera.”
“The temperature in Houston is about the same as Honolulu,” said Rice University professor, Neal Lane. “This is a key recruiting strategy at Rice University.”
This and many other jokes portray Lane’s humorous personality. A proud native of Oklahoma City said he talked about the environment that led him to be the man he is today.
“Nothing happening on any given day and the thunderstorms in Oklahoma led me to appreciate science and technology,” said Lane. He now is a professor but has served as assistant to President Clinton for science and technology and was director of the White House office of Science and Technology Policy from August 1998 to January 2001.
Lane said that he was not the best student in college. What drove him to succeed was the contribution of his parents to his education by sacrificing to give him the best education they could afford. He said his mother’s nursing skills and his father’s love of mathematics instilled in him curiosity and a passion for learning.
A value that Lane carries in his heart is respect for humanity as a whole.
“It is important to respect all people no matter what their job or the relationship you have with them,” Lane said.
Doug Schwartzendruber, a professor of Biology, introduced Lane and said, “One thing that we’ve enjoyed most about him is that he is a gentleman.” Lane, who has been married to his wife Roni for 45 years, said that his wife was his number one supporter. Lane also said that she gave up her career opportunities to support him and has spent many years planning his trips around the world.
When he worked in Washington D.C., she would commute with him to work so that they would have time together. Family is Lane’s first priority and he makes efforts to spend as much time as he can at home including trying to remain at home on weekends.
Lane also mentioned that many of today’s scientists come from abroad, and the numbers are declining each year. He said that if the problem isn’t solved soon than America will be behind other countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom that have students constantly going into science fields.
He encouraged education in K-12 to emphasize science in the classroom and said that teachers can improve technology by emphasizing science more in the classroom. He also said that a key problem in teaching evolution and creation within classes is that teacher’s haven’t figured out how to teach religion in school. Without this balance there will always be controversy and no progress.
Another suggestion that Lane has for scientists is to get more involved in politics. Science influences almost every area of politics and yet scientists are not as involved in decisions as they could be. He also believes that freedom is key to researching and making the discoveries necessary for growth in the sciences. He warns against giving up the freedoms that we share because of fear of threatening outside sources.
“Young people don’t realize what they can and will be able to do,” Lane said, “put your sights down the road, be ambitious and optimistic, and you will surprise yourself.”
01-26-2006