At a time when conferences prefer to utilize 'transmitted presence' (I mean conferencing through video or Skype), we still find scientists jetting around the globe to share scientific ideas and results, in spite of the awareness about the substantial contribution of jet travel to carbon and global warming. Ironically, 'Climate' conferences are the major contributors to climate change in recent times due the increased fascination for climate research. Well, many of the scientists are often hypocrites and perhaps hypocrisy is a way of doing science in the modern scientific society! Science tells, 'Alcohol is bad for health in many ways'. I have read about scientists (like Newton) who forgot even food when they were immersed in thought process. Today I see self-proclaimed scientists who forget science to indulge themselves in food and alcohol and there is no conference without alcohol.
Alcohol has become an important ingredient to cook 'science diplomacy' at present. Some people may even prefer to call it 'bottle diplomacy', but that is too general. This kind of diplomacy prompted me to think (not under the influence of alcohol - I'm a bad scientist!) about alcohol in science itself! I could recollect many examples from conferences referred to in some of the books written about great scientists. Perhaps alcohol is an integral part of Western culture that it spilled over to science conferences too. Whether it is a conference in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory or in Keystone Symposia, alcohol follows a seriously scientific discussion and alcohol influenced discussions also have (or at least had from what I read) some scientific flavour. Such discussions are considered to facilitate networking in certain cases. Unfortunately, in a majority of cases (except for a few) science is a conspicuous absence both during and at the end of a conference conducted in India. Again, I refer to the present-day scenario in India. I've also read about great conferences conducted in India that produced quality scientific discussions in the past.
Alcohol can have only one effect in the brain: getting rid of inhibition or remove bias (?) or thoughtlessness or numb neurons. Such an effect would result in two possibilities in scientific field: 1] Evoking a new line of thought leading to a solution for a complex scientific problem ( in a real scientist) 2] Stimulating a suave and manipulative thought that results in favours. While the first possibility is a rarity in Indian science society, the second possibility generates funds for research that is unscientifically pursued, papers or patents that are useless (both for science or society), and undeserving fame and wealth. Positive effect of alcohol on scientists or creationists like poets and artists could well be a new research idea to explore if the subject (the person) indeed is worthy. Alcohol's negative effect on scientific field could also be a research study for sociologists if it can result in good recommendations. But then, for both a 'bottle diplomacy' might be needed to get the funding. 'Ethanol'gate in science funding is much bigger than 'Coal'gate in India with the only difference being the absence of CAG.
Alcohol has become an important ingredient to cook 'science diplomacy' at present. Some people may even prefer to call it 'bottle diplomacy', but that is too general. This kind of diplomacy prompted me to think (not under the influence of alcohol - I'm a bad scientist!) about alcohol in science itself! I could recollect many examples from conferences referred to in some of the books written about great scientists. Perhaps alcohol is an integral part of Western culture that it spilled over to science conferences too. Whether it is a conference in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory or in Keystone Symposia, alcohol follows a seriously scientific discussion and alcohol influenced discussions also have (or at least had from what I read) some scientific flavour. Such discussions are considered to facilitate networking in certain cases. Unfortunately, in a majority of cases (except for a few) science is a conspicuous absence both during and at the end of a conference conducted in India. Again, I refer to the present-day scenario in India. I've also read about great conferences conducted in India that produced quality scientific discussions in the past.
Alcohol can have only one effect in the brain: getting rid of inhibition or remove bias (?) or thoughtlessness or numb neurons. Such an effect would result in two possibilities in scientific field: 1] Evoking a new line of thought leading to a solution for a complex scientific problem ( in a real scientist) 2] Stimulating a suave and manipulative thought that results in favours. While the first possibility is a rarity in Indian science society, the second possibility generates funds for research that is unscientifically pursued, papers or patents that are useless (both for science or society), and undeserving fame and wealth. Positive effect of alcohol on scientists or creationists like poets and artists could well be a new research idea to explore if the subject (the person) indeed is worthy. Alcohol's negative effect on scientific field could also be a research study for sociologists if it can result in good recommendations. But then, for both a 'bottle diplomacy' might be needed to get the funding. 'Ethanol'gate in science funding is much bigger than 'Coal'gate in India with the only difference being the absence of CAG.
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