For Yet Better Science

Outfits for planned lunar expedition more streamlined and flexible than Apollo suits, and a better fit for women.

Biologists often find themselves awestruck by the elegant perfection of living organisms. From the sophisticated ventilation system of a termite mound to the tensile strength of spider silk, nature has invariably selected the most effective designs through billions of years of relentless evolutionary pressures. From molecules to organisms, scientists and engineers have repeatedly been enthralled by nature's handiwork and have emulated natural designs in man-made innovations.

Here, we outline 16 tools for science that are causing us to rethink the boundaries of scientific research. Looking across these tools and their individual impact on science and society, we begin to ask questions about their collective impact. How do low-cost tools impact science? Do these tools accelerate scientific progress or expand access, and to what extent? Finally, is the impact, and potential impact, of these tools incremental, or potentially revolutionary?

The University of Helsinki is Finland’s largest and oldest academic institution and an innovative centre of science and thinking. Since 1640, we have contributed to the establishment of a fair and equal society that is considered one of the best in the world. Today, our multidisciplinary academic community solves problems that affect us all – with the power of knowledge, for the world.

Science issues – whether connected with climate, childhood vaccines or new techniques in biotechnology – are part of the fabric of civic life, raising a range of social, ethical and policy issues for the citizenry. As members of the scientific community gathered at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), here is a roundup of key takeaways from our studies of U.S. public opinion about science issues and their effect on society.

The best science books evoke a sense of wonder and make you marvel at the incredible world we live in.  

Prize motivation: “for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer” (HPV)