Science in service to the public good | Siddhartha Roy

Translator: Leslie Gauthier Reviewer: Camille Martínez

翻译人员: Wei Wu 校对人员: Lipeng Chen

Fresh out of college,

那年我大学刚毕业，

I went to work for a consulting firm.

进入一家咨询公司工作。

During orientation, the leaders dished out advice.

领导在新员工培训时给了很多建议。

Amongst them was one pithy counsel I will never forget.

其中有一条建议我一直都记得。

He told us, "Be easy to manage."

他告诉我们，“服从管理。”

Considering how naïve I really was at the time,

考虑到我当时的幼稚程度，

I took his advice to heart.

我深深的记了下来。

I told myself,

我告诉自己，

"Yes, I will be the ultimate team player.

“是的，我会成为团队中最好的队友。

I will do everything I'm told.

我会做任何分给我的事情。

I will be easy to manage."

我会服从管理。”

It wasn't until I arrived in graduate school

我一直如此认为，直到 我开始念研究生的时候，

and witnessed firsthand the criminal actions of scientists and engineers

我身临其境的目睹了在密西根州 福林市饮用水危机中

in the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

科学家和工程师犯下的罪行，

that I realized how dangerous and yet surprisingly common

我才意识到这个想法到底 会带来多大的危险，

this line of thinking really is.

而这个想法又是如此普遍。

Make no mistake:

明确一下：

the Flint water crisis is one of the most egregious environmental injustices

福林市饮用水危机是我们这个时代 最为臭名昭著的

of our time.

环境污染事件。

For over 18 months,

长达18个月，

100,000 residents, including thousands of young children,

包括上千儿童的十万居民，

were exposed to contaminated drinking water with high levels of lead.

他们的饮用水中的 铅浓度严重超标。

Lead is a potent neurotoxin

铅具有神经毒性，

which causes cognitive and developmental disabilities

能够引起认知和发育障碍，

and is especially harmful to growing fetuses and young children.

对于胎儿和小孩子 尤其有害。

We've known about its dangers since the Roman Empire.

我们早在罗马帝国时代 就知道铅的危害。

Amongst a whole host of health issues,

在一次全市范围的疾病中，

12 people died by contracting Legionnaires' disease.

共有12人死于拉基氏病。

Flint's water infrastructure --

福林市的供水设施——

the complex network of underground pipes --

复杂的地下管网——

has been severely damaged.

已经损毁严重。

And while the water quality is slowly improving

虽然水质在缓慢改善，

and the pipes are being replaced now,

并且很多管道都在被更换，

more than two years later,

在两年多之后，

the water is still not safe to drink.

那里的自来水依然不能安全饮用。

So, people are still in shock.

所以，人们依然很震惊。

They ask themselves,

他们问自己，

"How could this have happened?"

“这究竟怎么发生的？”

The short answer is: the crisis began when an emergency manager,

长话短说，原因是密西根州长 任命了一名临时管理者，

appointed by Michigan's governor,

这位管理者为了省钱，

decided to switch their water source to a local river to save money.

将福林市水源改为从 当地河流取水。

But it continued for so long

但是问题之所以持续这么久

because scientists and engineers at government agencies

是因为服务于密西根州和联邦政府的

in the state of Michigan and in the federal government

科学家和工程师

did not follow federal regulations for treating the water right.

并没有按照联邦规范正确 做好饮用水处理。

What was more,

更气人的是，

they actively cheated on the law and orchestrated cover-ups.

他们故意的欺骗法律， 并合谋掩盖真相。

They ridiculed residents asking for help,

他们嘲笑寻求帮助的民众，

while publicly insisting that the brown, smelly water coming out of the tap

公开地坚持那些从自来水龙头里 流出来的棕色发臭的水

was safe to drink.

喝着没事。

The system at the local, state and federal levels completely failed

当地政府、州政府、联邦政府 整个系统都失效了

to protect our most vulnerable,

无法保护居民的利益，

and an entire population was left to fend for itself.

导致整个城市居民 只能自我保护。

Now, amidst this injustice, Flint residents were rallying together.

现在，面对这样的不公正， 福林市居民开始团结起来。

Amongst them were some amazing women of Flint --

其中福林市的有一些女性——

mothers concerned about their kids --

那些关心自己孩子健康的母亲——

who came together forming many grassroots coalitions,

团结起来，建立了很多草根联盟，

and these groups started protesting and demanding change.

她们开始举行示威抗议， 要求改变。

这些组织同样也积极寻求 外部科学家的帮助，

The group also reached out to outside scientists for help,

and a few responded.

但是回应者很少。

Amongst them was a guy named Miguel Del Toral,

有一位叫 Miguel Del Toral 的 科学家，

a water expert at the US EPA -- the Environmental Protection Agency --

他是美国EPA（环境保护局）的 一位水资源专家

who actually wrote this scientific memo

他实际上写了这份科学备忘

and sent it to the state of Michigan and the federal government

并将它提交给了密西根和联邦政府

to bring their attention to this problem.

希望引起对这个问题的重视。

He was characterized a "rogue employee,"

他被贴上“游手好闲的员工”的标签，

and silenced.

并噤声了。

In collaboration with Flint residents,

通过与福林市居民的合作，

our research team here at Tech,

我们在（密西根）技术学院的 研究团队，

of students and scientists led by professor Marc Edwards,

在 Marc Edwards 教授带领下的 学生和科学家团体，

conducted citywide testing

在全市范围进行了测试

to prove that Flint's water was indeed contaminated,

证明了福林市的饮用水 确实被污染了，

even toxic in some homes.

在某些家庭甚至达到毒害级。

We substantiated what Flint had been screaming for months,

我们证实了福林市居民呐喊了 好几个月的事情，

and put it on the Internet for the world to see.

并且放在了互联网上 让全世界看见。

Now, when I was getting involved,

现在，当我参与其中时，

when I said yes to this,

当我答应加入时，

I had no idea what I was getting into.

我其实不知道我要面对的是什么。

But every second of this journey has been totally worth it.

但是这次旅程的每一分每一秒 都被证明是值得的。

This was science in service to the public.

这是在公共服务中的科学。

This is what I came to graduate school for,

这是我之所以来念研究生的目的，

and this is how I would rather spend my life.

这也是我愿意毕生投入的领域。

And so this coalition --

所以这个联盟——

this unlikely coalition of citizens, pastors, journalists and scientists --

这个少见的由公民、牧师、记者 和科学家组成的联盟——

came together to uncover the truth using science, advocacy and activism.

聚集起来揭开真相，利用科学知识， 辩论技术和行动主义。

A local pediatrician figured out

一位当地儿科医生指出

that the instances of childhood lead poisoning had indeed doubled

在福林饮用水危机中福林市 儿童铅中毒病例

in Flint during the crisis.

数量出现了翻番。

And the state of Michigan was forced to acknowledge the problem

之后密西根州被迫承认问题存在

and take steps to correct it.

并采取手段纠正这个问题。

This group and many others got Flint's kids protected.

这个组织和其他的组织一起 让福林的孩子得到保护。

A few months later,

几个月后，

President Obama came in and declared a federal emergency,

奥巴马总统介入此事，并投入了 联邦紧急救助基金，

and now Flint is getting more than 600 million dollars

如今福林市已经获得了 六亿美元

in healthcare, nutrition, education

用于医疗、营养、教育

and overhauling their water infrastructure.

以及供水设施的大修费用。

However, the arrogance and the callous disregard for public health

然而，那些为政府机构工作的 科学家和工程师

shown by scientists and engineers at these government agencies

表现出的对公共健康事务的 傲慢和冷漠无情

is beyond belief.

难以置信。

These unhealthy cultures that are festering in these groups,

在这些组织中，不健康的文化 在溃烂和化脓，

where the focus is on meeting regulations and checking boxes

他们更多的关注开监管会议 检查收件箱

as opposed to protecting public health,

而不是保护公众健康，

is just appalling.

令人震惊。

Just consider this email that an EPA employee wrote,

看看这封EPA的雇员写的邮件，

where she goes,

里面说，

"I'm not so sure Flint is a community we want to go out on a limb for."

“我不确定福林市这个社区 我们是否想帮助。”

The dehumanization of an entire population could not be more obvious.

这种对整个社区居民非人化的态度 再明显不过。

Now, contrast that to the first canon of engineering,

现在，在我的观点中，工程界的 第一信条，

which, in my opinion, should be the first law of humanity:

应该被修改为第一人性定律：

"To hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public,"

“为了公共领域的健康、安全和福祉。”

above all else.

超越其它任何考量。

This is the Hippocratic Oath we've rarely acknowledged,

这是希波克拉底誓词， 我们很少人知道，

let alone embraced.

更不要说接受了。

And so when scientists and engineers, very much like medical doctors,

所以当科学家和工程师， 就像是医生一样，

screw up,

搞砸事情时，

people can get hurt --

有人会因此受伤——

even die.

甚至死掉。

If our professionals and even students fail to get that,

如果我们的专业人士，甚至 学生没有能够做到，

society pays a huge price.

社会就会付出巨大代价。

Buried deep in history lies a character I deeply admire --

我非常赞赏一位已经被历史 深深掩埋的角色——

an engineer named Peter Palchinsky.

一位叫 Peter Palchinsky 的工程师。

He lived in the time of the Soviet Union.

他生活在苏联时代。

Palchinsky 不断地因为自己 极端的诚实

And Palchinsky repeatedly got in trouble for his radical honesty

and willingness to point out major flaws in the Soviets' mindless pursuit

并不断指出苏联盲目工业化过程中 存在的主要缺陷

of rapid industrialization.

而给自己惹来麻烦。

Everyone was expected to follow orders coming from the top.

每个人都被要求服从上级命令。

Anyone asking questions or offering feedback was unwelcome.

任何人提出质疑或提供建议都是不被欢迎的。

The Soviets had created the largest army of engineers the world had ever seen,

苏联构建了世界上迄今为止最大的 工程师团队，

and yet most of them were mere cogs in a gigantic machine heading for doom.

然而绝大部分都不过是这个走向毁灭的 巨大机器里的一个齿轮。

Palchinsky, on the other hand, implored engineers

但 Palchinsky 不同，他乞求工程师

to look at the economic, political and social consequences of their actions;

考虑他们的决定对于经济、 政治和社会的影响；

in other words, be more public-focused.

也就是更加的公众导向。

His fearless voice of reason was seen as a threat

他勇敢理性的声音被视为威胁，

to the political establishment,

威胁了政治格局，

and Joseph Stalin had him executed in 1929.

斯大林在1929年处死了他。

Palchinsky's view on technocrats is very different

Palchinsky 对于技术专家的观点

from one that is still very popular, still very common --

跟当前依然非常流行和普遍的观点 非常的不同——

that of a dispassionate researcher working in his ivory tower lab,

想象一位心平气和地研究人员 在象牙塔中做研究，

or a nerdy engineer working in his cubicle.

或一位古怪的工程师 摆弄他的试管。

这毫无疑问是睿智的，

Brilliant, no doubt,

yet somehow cut off from the world,

但是却跟这个世界割裂了，

shows little emotion --

没有什么情感——

kind of like Spock from "Star Trek," you know?

就像是星际迷航中的 Spock，对么？

This guy.

那个家伙。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Let's try and do the Spock salute.

让我们尝试想 Spock 致敬。

我不知道自己能否成功……

I don't think I'll succeed ...

See, I can't be Spock.

看，我不是 Spock。

Thank goodness I can't be Spock.

谢天谢地我我做不了 Spock。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

I was reminded of this distinction because a recent article came out

我之所以注意到这个差别 是因为最近一篇文章

in a very reputed scientific journal,

刊登在一个非常有影响力的科学期刊，

which kind of characterized our Flint work as driven by "youthful idealism,"

评价我们在福林市的工作是 “青年理想主义”，

and "Hollywood's dramatic sensibilities."

以及“好莱坞戏剧式敏感”。

It asks scientists to protect their research funding and institutions

它号召科学家不惜一切代价， 不管原因是否正义，

at all costs, no matter how just the cause.

保护他们的研究经费和机构。

And if you think you have to get involved in something,

如果你觉得自己有必要介入 一些事件，

even if it's an emergency,

即使非常紧急，

try finding an activist group or an NGO,

先尝试找一个活动团体或 NGO，

and obtain the full support of the academic community --

然后获得学术团体的完全支持——

whatever that means --

且不论完全支持是什么意思——

before you get involved.

然后在考虑介入。

Not one mention of our moral and professional obligation

没有人提到我们在精神上 和作为专业人士的责任

of preventing harm to the public,

去避免对公众利益的损害，

or the fact that we have all this expertise,

没人提到我们有专业技能，

resources and, for some, even tenure

资源，甚至有些人有终身教职，

to, you know, accomplish this task.

去实现这个任务。

I'm not saying every scientist should be an activist.

我并不是说所有的科学家 都需要成为活动家。

There are real and sometimes very painful consequences of speaking up.

公开发表观点有时候会带来 非常痛苦的结果。

But to denounce this idea, this possibility so completely

但是仅仅为了保护你的研究经费，

so that you can protect research funding,

或者仅仅因为你己的胆小，

simply screams of self-serving cowardice,

而非常绝对地否定这个观点，

and these are not the ideals we would want to pass to our students.

我们希望传递给我们学生的 一定不是这样的思想。

And so you may think, "OK, all this sounds great,

而你可能会想， ”好吧，听起来很棒，

but you'll never completely change organizational cultures,

但是你永远不可能改变 组织的文化，

or imbibe mindsets in students and professionals

或在学生和教授的脑子里 植入这样的观念

to look at their work as a public good --

将他们的工作视为公众利益——

science in service to the public."

为了大众服务的科学。”

Maybe so.

或许吧。

But could a big reason for that be

但是会不会是因为

that we are not training our students right?

我们训练学生的方法是错误的？

Because if you look closely,

因为如果你仔细想想，

our education system today is focused more on creating

我们的教育系统现在 更加注重培养

what ex-Yale professor Bill Deresiewicz calls "excellent sheep" --

前耶鲁教授 Bill Deresiewicz 说的“优秀的绵羊”——

young people who are smart and ambitious,

聪明和有上进心的年轻人

and yet somehow risk-averse, timid, directionless

同时厌恶风险、胆小、没有方向，

and, sometimes, full of themselves.

而且，有时，只想着自己。

Now, kids ... you know,

现在，孩子们 … 你知道，

we fell in love with science when we were kids,

我们在小时候沉迷于科学，

and yet we somehow spend most of our time during high school and college

却不知为何在高中和大学 花费大部分时间

just jumping through hoops

只是在往上爬，

and doing things so that we can polish our résumé

做一些能够美化我们简历的事情，

instead of sitting down

忘记了坐下来，

and reflecting on what we want to do and who we want to be.

思考我们到底想要做的事情， 想要成为的人。

And so,

而且，

过去二十年来我们的 高校研究生中

the markers of empathy in our college graduates

have been dropping dramatically in the past two decades,

认为自己富有同情心的人 大幅度减少，

while those of narcissism are on the rise.

而具有自恋表现的比例在上升。

There is also a growing culture of disengagement

与此同时工程专业学生和大众之间的

between engineering students and the public.

关联在进一步疏远。

我们训练学生构建桥梁， 解决复杂问题，

We are trained to build bridges and solve complex problems

but not how to think or live or be a citizen of this world.

却没有传授他们，如果作为一名 公民生活和思考。

My undergraduate years were explicit job preparation,

我的本科生活就是明明确确的 找工作的准备期，

and I cannot tell you how suffocating and painful it was at times.

我无法告诉你这个过程中有时会 多么痛苦和令人窒息。

And so,

然后，

some people think the solution to great engineers, to great scientists,

有人可能会觉得培养伟大的 工程师和科学家的方法

is more technical training.

是更多的技术训练。

Maybe so.

或许吧。

But where are the discussions on ethical decision-making,

但是也需要这样的讨论，例如 涉及伦理的决策，

or building character,

或性格角色的塑造，

or discerning right from wrong?

或者区分对错的能力？

Consider this project that I deeply love and admire.

来看看我非常喜爱和欣赏的 一个项目。

It's called, "Heroic Imagination Project."

名字叫“英雄主义想象力计划。”

A brainchild of Dr. Phil Zimbardo,

老顽童 Phil Zimbardo 博士，

famous for the Stanford Prison Experiment,

著名斯坦福监狱实验的设计者，

this program seeks to train school-going children around the world

这项计划训练全球范围的 适龄儿童

to look at themselves as heroes-in-waiting,

将自己视为蓄势待发的英雄，

or heroes-in-training.

或正接受培训的英雄。

So, these young minds work over time to develop skills and virtues

所以，这些年轻的思想，不断地 磨练自己的意志和技能，

so that when the opportunity comes,

等待机会的到来，

no matter what that opportunity be,

不管是什么样的机会，

to stand up and do the right thing.

都会挺身而出，做正确的事。

In other words,

换句话说，

anyone can be a hero.

人人皆是英雄。

停下来回味一下这个想法。

Think about that idea for a second.

Why don't we teach science and engineering like that --

为什么我们不在科学和工程教育中 引入这样的方法——

where heroism and public service are seen as key values,

英雄注意和公众服务被视为 核心利益，

because indeed, it's often heroism

因为确实地，英雄主义

that is not only the antidote to public indifference,

不仅是对公众冷漠的解毒剂，

but also to systemic evil like we saw in Flint.

也是对抗福林市那样系统性的 罪恶的解毒剂。

And so, dream with me

所以，跟我一起梦想

what a 21st-century scientist slash engineer could look like:

一个二十一世纪的科学家和工程师 可能成为的样子：

individuals who are driven to master the sciences

那些掌握科学技能的个人

so that they can serve society,

能够服务社会大众，

and are also aware

同时也能够

of the tremendous power their knowledge and decisions have;

认识到自己力量的强大， 决策的重要；

folks who are developing their moral courage at all times,

这些人能够持续不断地 发展自己的精神勇气，

and who realize that conflict and controversy

并且意识到冲突和争议

are not necessarily bad things

并不一定是坏事

if our ultimate loyalty is to the public and the planet.

如果我们的终极目标，是为了 地球和人类的福祉。

These are the people who will stand up like we did in Flint --

这些人会像福林事件中的我们 一样挺身而出——

not to be saviors or heroes in the media,

不是媒体中的救世主或英雄形象，

but altruistic and fundamentally good actors that you and I can trust.

而是你我能够信任的那种 利他主义的好人。

Imagine fostering such a public-focused mindset

想象一下培养公共利益导向的 思维模式，

in classes, on service trips and during activities

在课堂里、在服务过程中、 在活动中、

during college or even high school,

在大学里、甚至在高中，

so that these young minds will hold onto those ideals

那么这些年轻的思想就可能 在进入社会时，

when they actually enter the real world,

保持这种思维方式，

whether that be consulting, academia, policy making --

不管是做咨询，学术，决策——

or even becoming the president of a country.

甚至成为国家的总统。

Some of mankind's greatest challenges lie ahead of us;

我们将要面对的，是人类 最伟大的挑战；

contaminated drinking water is just one example.

饮用水污染仅仅是 其中一例。

We could definitely use more --

我们绝对可以使用更多——

nay, we desperately need more -- compassionate upstanders

不，我们急迫的需要更多—— 充满激情的杰出的人

and public-focused scientists and engineers

以及关心公众利益的 科学家和工程师

who will strive to the do right thing,

他们能够坚持做正确的事情，

and not be easy to manage.

并且不容易被管理住。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）