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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 1982)
Science ^and-enttnre Culture and Science in Public Policy une culture s progress is anotner culture s downfall That was the theme of Culture, Science and Public Policy, an anthro pological look at the ethnocentrism inherent in improving the quality of life "in the public interest ' Carol Silverman, visiting professor of anthropology, began the presentation by defining progress in under developed countries as the importation of selected objects, chosen by the elite of an advanced country in hope of "bringing them what we have But both Silverman and Geraldine Moreno-Black, assistant professor of anthropology, saw an immoral element in the definition, and therefore in the practice The cultural context into which these objects will be introduced, they say, is frequently ignored Policy makers must be made aware of the impact of their programs, they said This can be facilitated through meeting witn ana gaming reactions from the recipients of their policy Moreno-Black used nutritional plan ning on national and international levels to illustrate the point The history of U S nutrition policies, including the Pure Food and Drug Act. the Recom mended Daily Allowance and Eating in America (the 1976 pamphlet that sug gested that Americans eat more fiber and less sugars and fats) shows repeated inability to bring real change to American diets, she says International nutrition planning, as perpetrated by the United States and its industries, provided the second group of policies failing because of eth nocentrism Imported corn that can't be milled, milk that most adults can t digest and milk formulas where no po table water is available have all been given to underdeveloped nations in the name of progress, they said By Diane Winocur 1 The Day after Trinity Two scientists who worked on producing the first atomic bomb, University Pres Paul Olum and biology department head Aaron Novick, presided over a discussion on that bomb and its con sequences Monday as part of the University Convocation Olum and Novick responded to questions — mostly on the future of nuclear disarmament — to a near-capacity audience in 150 Geology The discussion followed "The Day After Trinity," a movie discussing the process and consequences of the building of the first atomic bomb. The film focused on the project leader, the late J Robert Oppenheimer The audience listened to the filmed inter views of scientists involved with the first bomb with solemn intensity Gallows humor marked comments such as Oppenheimer's brother men tioning that physicist Enrico Fermi was taking bets on whether, providing the bomb worked, the whole state of New Mexico would blow up at Trinity — the name given to the first test explosion Olum started the discussion by explaining that he did not want to lecture on his part on the project Neither Olum nor Novick apologized for their work on the bomb Olum disagreed with the statement that building the bomb was a “Faustian bargain with the devil," stating that at the beginning of the work there was evidence that the Nazis were working on a bomb "There seemed to be no choice Nor do I agree it was the arrogance of technical know ledge," Olum said Olum mentioned that Oppenheimer stopped Olum and others from meeting to discuss the implications of the project. The two administrators took a stand against nuclear weaponry Novick received applause for his support of the Campaign for Nuclear Freeze and ballot measures advocating halting the Photo by Bob Baker _| Mark Setterholm. a senior, found he was one of the hundreds of people (some of whom did find seats) attending seminars after Monday's convocation Evolution and Religious Truth - Religion can be explained from a materialist perspective, and that per spective can be used to have some fun, according to a seminar presentation by David Wagner, a University biology " professor I Darwin's theories lead to a mater - lalistic outlook in which all that is real is solid, Wagner says Everything can be - explained with this outlook, he adds i This theory, which provides a basis I _ for scientific thought, is opposed by ' vitalism, which holds that a force dis tinct from physical and chemical forces exists in living organisms As science has progressed, vitalism j has become a decreasingly useful | theory, Wagner says i _ However, this theory is still encoun tered in three areas of biology: in i questions of consciousness, the origin i of life and the border between the : living and the non-living Religion keeps one from commit ing suicide the minute you find out ivho you are ” Even though this concept is unreal jnd immaterial, it should be enjoyed, ie says For example, Wagner says he has felt religious experiences” similiar to toga when considering a variety of iverworts (a moss-like plant), and ocusing on “an appreciation of what is >ital in them.” He then senses they are holy, and vhere they are from is holy Even though he knows the exper ence is only a physical/chemical >rocess, Wagner said he does not ealize this during the experience This religious consciousness’ per nits one to no longer feel like the most mportant thing in the universe, but to sense the tradition of culture. By David Stelnmetz Photo by Mark Pynes University Pres. Paul Olum and Aaron Novick, head of the biology department, spoke about their participation in the building of the first atomic bomb. proauction ana testing of nuclear weapons Olum, cautiously adding that he was speak ing as an individual, told the audience he sup ported nuclear freeze, arms reduction, unilateral nuclear freezes and legislation prohibiting a “first-strike.” Novick said that the build-up of nuclear weapons has ironically decreased the chance that the weapons would ever be used. Less than 10 percent of the population is expected to survive a worldwide nuclear war, he estimated Olum and Novick met with little antagonism in their discussion. At one point, Olum asked those with opposing views to feel free to speak up Nobody did. Olum seemed surprised when someone asked why young people dominate the anti-nu clear movements. They have "longer futures to protect,” he answered. By Joan Nyland
