Science in service to the public good | Siddhartha Roy

Translator: Leslie Gauthier Reviewer: Camille Martínez

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Marssi Draw

Fresh out of college,

我一從大學畢業，

I went to work for a consulting firm.

就到一間顧問公司做事。

During orientation, the leaders dished out advice.

新人訓練期間， 培訓員給了很多建議。

Amongst them was one pithy counsel I will never forget.

其中一項很精簡， 我永遠都不會忘記。

He told us, "Be easy to manage."

他說：「當個好管的人。」

Considering how naïve I really was at the time,

想一想我當時有多天真，

I took his advice to heart.

我把他的話深印心中。

I told myself,

我對自己說：

"Yes, I will be the ultimate team player.

「是的，我要當一個終極合作者，

I will do everything I'm told.

他們說的我都做，

I will be easy to manage."

我要當個好管的人。」

It wasn't until I arrived in graduate school

直到我進入研究所，一切都變了，

and witnessed firsthand the criminal actions of scientists and engineers

我親眼見證科學家與工程師聯手，

in the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

犯下密西根州弗林特市的 自來水汙染危機，

that I realized how dangerous and yet surprisingly common

使我明白這樣的思路

this line of thinking really is.

有多危險卻又意外的常見。

Make no mistake:

一點都沒錯，

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

弗林特市自來水汙染事件

是我們這個時代 極嚴重的環境不正義。

of our time.

For over 18 months,

超過 18 個月，

100,000 residents, including thousands of young children,

十萬居民，包括數千孩童，

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

接觸到受高鉛量汙染的飲用水。

Lead is a potent neurotoxin

鉛是一種強度高的神經毒，

which causes cognitive and developmental disabilities

會造成智能及發展障礙，

and is especially harmful to growing fetuses and young children.

對生長中的胎兒及幼兒特別有害。

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

自羅馬帝國時代 我們就知道其危險性。

Amongst a whole host of health issues,

在一大串的健康問題中，

12 people died by contracting Legionnaires' disease.

十二人死於退伍軍人症。

Flint's water infrastructure --

弗林特市的水基礎建設，

the complex network of underground pipes --

即在地面下錯綜複雜的水管線，

has been severely damaged.

早就受到嚴重破壞。

And while the water quality is slowly improving

即使水質已慢慢變好，

and the pipes are being replaced now,

現在也換了管線，

more than two years later,

事件發生兩年以後，

the water is still not safe to drink.

水依然不能安全飲用。

So, people are still in shock.

所以，大家還是很驚訝。

They ask themselves,

他們問自己：

"How could this have happened?"

「怎麼會發生這種事？」

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

長話短說就是： 危機始於一位緊急應變管理師，

appointed by Michigan's governor,

任命於密西根州州長，

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

決定把水源換到 一條當地河川以省錢。

But it continued for so long

但這情況持續太久，

because scientists and engineers at government agencies

因為受雇於政府機構的 科學家及工程師，

in the state of Michigan and in the federal government

無論是密西根或是聯邦政府，

did not follow federal regulations for treating the water right.

都沒有遵守聯邦法規來處理水。

What was more,

更慘的是，

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

他們還主動違法並集體包庇。

They ridiculed residents asking for help,

他們嘲諷上門求助的居民，

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

公開堅稱從水龍頭流出的褐色臭水

was safe to drink.

是安全的飲用水。

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

地方、州政府與聯邦系統，

完全沒有保護最脆弱的人，

to protect our most vulnerable,

and an entire population was left to fend for itself.

使得整群人必須自立救濟。

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

在這樣的不公正下， 弗林特市居民團結起來。

Amongst them were some amazing women of Flint --

其中有超棒的弗林特市婦女──

mothers concerned about their kids --

擔憂孩子的母親──

who came together forming many grassroots coalitions,

合作組成各式基層聯盟，

and these groups started protesting and demanding change.

開始抗議並要求改變。

The group also reached out to outside scientists for help,

他們還向外面的科學家求助，

and a few responded.

並得到幾個回應。

Amongst them was a guy named Miguel Del Toral,

其中一位是叫米格的人，

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

美國環保署的水專家，

who actually wrote this scientific memo

他實際寫下這段科學備忘錄，

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

送給密西根州政府及聯邦政府，

to bring their attention to this problem.

讓他們注意這個問題。

He was characterized a "rogue employee,"

他被歸類為「不聽話的員工」，

and silenced.

並被要求閉上嘴巴。

In collaboration with Flint residents,

與弗特林市居民合作，

our research team here at Tech,

我們在維吉尼亞理工的研究團隊，

of students and scientists led by professor Marc Edwards,

包含學生及科學家， 在愛德華教授的領導下，

conducted citywide testing

進行全市檢驗，

to prove that Flint's water was indeed contaminated,

證明弗特林市的水確實受到汙染，

even toxic in some homes.

在某些住家甚至有毒。

We substantiated what Flint had been screaming for months,

我們證實了弗特林市數月的呼喊，

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

並放到網路上讓全世界的人都看到。

Now, when I was getting involved,

我參與的時候，

when I said yes to this,

我答應做這件事的時候，

I had no idea what I was getting into.

根本不知道自己會陷入什麼情況。

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

但是一路走來每一秒都很值得。

This was science in service to the public.

這就是科學為人民服務。

This is what I came to graduate school for,

這也是我為什麼要念研究所，

and this is how I would rather spend my life.

也是我寧可過的生活。

And so this coalition --

所以這樣的聯盟──

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

這不尋常的聯盟，結合了公民、 牧師、記者及科學家──

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

一同以科學、宣傳及行動揭發真相。

A local pediatrician figured out

一名當地小兒科醫師發現，

that the instances of childhood lead poisoning had indeed doubled

孩童鉛中毒的案例

在弗林特水危機期間整整多了一倍。

in Flint during the crisis.

And the state of Michigan was forced to acknowledge the problem

密西根州政府被迫承認這個問題，

and take steps to correct it.

並為了改正採取幾個步驟。

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

這個團體和其他許多團體 保護了弗林特市的小孩。

A few months later,

幾個月之後，

President Obama came in and declared a federal emergency,

歐巴馬總統介入並宣布此為 聯邦緊急救援案件，

and now Flint is getting more than 600 million dollars

現在弗林特市得到六億多美金，

in healthcare, nutrition, education

用來補助健保、營養、教育

and overhauling their water infrastructure.

及徹底檢修水基礎設施。

However, the arrogance and the callous disregard for public health

然而，這些政府單位的 科學家及工程師

shown by scientists and engineers at these government agencies

對公共衛生表現出的傲慢與冷漠，

is beyond belief.

令人無法置信。

These unhealthy cultures that are festering in these groups,

這種不健康的文化 正嚴重腐化這些單位，

where the focus is on meeting regulations and checking boxes

他們只顧著符合法規， 勾了該做的事項，

as opposed to protecting public health,

而不是保護公共衛生，

is just appalling.

實在很可惡。

Just consider this email that an EPA employee wrote,

就想一下這封環保署員工發的電郵，

where she goes,

她這麼寫：

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

「我不太確定弗林特 這個社區值得我們冒險。」

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

太明顯把整群人妖魔化！

Now, contrast that to the first canon of engineering,

相較於工程倫理第一條，

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

在我看應該也是人性倫理的第一條：

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

「視大眾健康、安全及福祉 為至高無上。」

above all else.

超越一切。

This is the Hippocratic Oath we've rarely acknowledged,

我們連這樣的「醫師誓詞」 都很少提了，

let alone embraced.

更別說信奉了。

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

所以科學家及工程師就像醫師一樣，

screw up,

如果把事情搞砸了，

people can get hurt --

大眾會受到危害，

even die.

甚至死亡。

If our professionals and even students fail to get that,

如果我們的專家 甚至學生沒有了解這點，

society pays a huge price.

社會就要付出很大的代價。

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

我深深仰慕一位鮮為人知的古人──

an engineer named Peter Palchinsky.

他是工程師， 名叫彼得·帕爾欽思基。

He lived in the time of the Soviet Union.

他活在蘇聯時代。

And Palchinsky repeatedly got in trouble for his radical honesty

帕爾欽思基常常惹禍上身， 因為他的剛正不阿、

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

並願意指出蘇聯

一昧追求快速工業化的重大錯誤。

of rapid industrialization.

Everyone was expected to follow orders coming from the top.

大家都被期望 要遵守從上面來的命令。

Anyone asking questions or offering feedback was unwelcome.

問問題或提意見的人都不受歡迎。

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

蘇聯組織了一支世界 前所未見的工程師大軍，

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

然而其中大部分的人都只是 巨大機器中的小齒輪，

朝著敗亡邁進。

Palchinsky, on the other hand, implored engineers

然而帕爾欽思基卻懇求工程師

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

去看他們的行為會對經濟、 政治及社會產生什麼後果；

in other words, be more public-focused.

換句話說，要更關注大眾。

His fearless voice of reason was seen as a threat

他大無畏的理性聲音被視為

to the political establishment,

政治機構的威脅，

and Joseph Stalin had him executed in 1929.

史達林於 1929 年處決了他。

Palchinsky's view on technocrats is very different

帕爾欽思基對技術官僚的觀點

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

跟現在仍然很盛行、 仍然很常見的非常不一像──

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

就是沒有熱情的研究人員， 在自己的象牙塔實驗室裡工作，

or a nerdy engineer working in his cubicle.

或是一個宅工程師 窩在自己的辦公隔間裡。

Brilliant, no doubt,

當然，他們都很聰明，

yet somehow cut off from the world,

但是似乎與世界隔絕，

shows little emotion --

沒有什麼感情，

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

有點像《星際爭霸戰》 裡的史巴克，對吧？

This guy.

這傢伙。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Let's try and do the Spock salute.

來試試史巴克式敬禮。

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

我大概做不來......

See, I can't be Spock.

看吧？我不能當史巴克。

Thank goodness I can't be Spock.

謝天謝地我當不了史巴克。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

近期有篇文章 提醒我這兩者的差異，

in a very reputed scientific journal,

這篇文章發表在 一本很著名的科學期刊上，

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

有一點把我們的弗林特工作 歸類為受「青年人的理想主義」

and "Hollywood's dramatic sensibilities."

及「好萊塢的戲劇性感受」所驅使。

It asks scientists to protect their research funding and institutions

它要求科學家要不惜一切 保護他們的研究經費及機構，

at all costs, no matter how just the cause.

無論理由有多充分。

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

就想一下如果你要參與某件事，

even if it's an emergency,

即使是緊急事件，

try finding an activist group or an NGO,

你要努力找行動組織或民間團體，

and obtain the full support of the academic community --

還要獲得學界的全力支持，

whatever that means --

不管這是什麼意思──

before you get involved.

才能參與。

Not one mention of our moral and professional obligation

沒有人提到我們的職業道德及倫理

of preventing harm to the public,

要避免對大眾造成傷害，

or the fact that we have all this expertise,

或事實是我們的確有專門知識、

resources and, for some, even tenure

資源，甚至還有終生職教授

to, you know, accomplish this task.

來完成這件任務，你知道的。

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

我不是說每個科學家 都應該當行動分子。

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

大膽說真話有時候的確要 付上相當痛苦的代價。

But to denounce this idea, this possibility so completely

然而全面譴責 這個想法、這個可能性，

so that you can protect research funding,

只為了保護研究經費，

simply screams of self-serving cowardice,

只不過突顯出自私自利的懦弱，

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

這也不是我們想傳承給學生的理想。

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

你可能會想： 「是，這些聽起來都很棒，

but you'll never completely change organizational cultures,

但是你永遠不能完全改變組織文化，

or imbibe mindsets in students and professionals

或改變學生和教授的心態，

to look at their work as a public good --

讓他們視自己的工作為公益──

science in service to the public."

科學服務大眾。」

Maybe so.

大概吧！

But could a big reason for that be

但是會不會有很大的原因是

that we are not training our students right?

我們沒有教好學生？

Because if you look closely,

因為如果你仔細觀察，

our education system today is focused more on creating

今天的教育體系專注在生產

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

前耶魯教授威廉·德雷西維茲 所謂的「優秀的綿羊」──

young people who are smart and ambitious,

聰明有抱負的年輕人，

and yet somehow risk-averse, timid, directionless

卻不知怎的膽小怕事，沒有方向，

and, sometimes, full of themselves.

有時候還很自以為是。

Now, kids ... you know,

孩子……你知道

we fell in love with science when we were kids,

我們在還是個孩子時 愛上科學，

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

卻不知為何在高中和大學， 把大部分時間花在

just jumping through hoops

忙裡忙外百依百順，

and doing things so that we can polish our résumé

做很多事情讓履歷好看，

instead of sitting down

而不是坐下來

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

思考我們想做什麼， 想成為什麼樣的人。

And so,

所以，

the markers of empathy in our college graduates

我們大學畢業生的同理心

have been dropping dramatically in the past two decades,

在過去二十年急遽下降，

while those of narcissism are on the rise.

而自戀的情況卻節節高升。

There is also a growing culture of disengagement

還有一種文化也在高升，

between engineering students and the public.

就是工學院學生與公眾脫離。

We are trained to build bridges and solve complex problems

我們受訓練要造橋鋪路， 並解決複雜的問題，

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

卻沒有受訓要如何思考、 生活，或當個世界公民。

My undergraduate years were explicit job preparation,

我的大學生涯完全就是職前教育，

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

我真的無法形容有時候這有多苦悶。

And so,

所以，

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

有人認為要成就 偉大的工程師、科學家，

is more technical training.

就是要給予更多的技術訓練。

Maybe so.

或許吧！

But where are the discussions on ethical decision-making,

但是決策倫理在哪裡？

or building character,

高風亮節的情操在哪裡？

or discerning right from wrong?

分辨善惡又在哪裡？

Consider this project that I deeply love and admire.

想一下我很喜愛 也很欣賞的這個計畫，

It's called, "Heroic Imagination Project."

叫做「英雄的想像力」。

A brainchild of Dr. Phil Zimbardo,

它是菲利普·津巴多博士的創見，

famous for the Stanford Prison Experiment,

他以斯坦福監獄實驗著稱，

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

這個計畫試圖訓練全世界學童

to look at themselves as heroes-in-waiting,

視自己為英雄候選人，

or heroes-in-training.

或是英雄受訓人。

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

所以這些年輕人隨著時間 發展技能和美德，

so that when the opportunity comes,

所以在機會來臨時，

no matter what that opportunity be,

無論是什麼機會，

to stand up and do the right thing.

都能挺身做對的事。

In other words,

換句話說，

anyone can be a hero.

每個人都能成為英雄。

Think about that idea for a second.

稍微思考一下這個想法。

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

為什麼我們不能 用那種方式教理工科？

where heroism and public service are seen as key values,

把英雄主義及公眾服務 視為關鍵價值，

because indeed, it's often heroism

因為的確如此，英雄主義常常

that is not only the antidote to public indifference,

不僅是對公眾漠不關心的唯一解藥，

but also to systemic evil like we saw in Flint.

也能對抗系統性的邪惡， 就像我們在弗林特看到的一樣。

And so, dream with me

所以，跟我一起夢想，

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

21 世紀科學家及工程師 應該是這樣的：

individuals who are driven to master the sciences

身為受驅策精通科學

so that they can serve society,

以服務社會的個體，

and are also aware

並意識到

of the tremendous power their knowledge and decisions have;

他們的知識及決策握有極大的力量；

folks who are developing their moral courage at all times,

他們隨時都在培養自己的道德勇氣，

and who realize that conflict and controversy

並了解衝突與爭論

are not necessarily bad things

並不盡然都是壞事，

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

只要我們最終是忠於大眾及地球。

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

這些人會挺身而出， 就像我們在弗林特一樣，

not to be saviors or heroes in the media,

不是為了在媒體上當救世主或英雄，

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

而是利他主義， 是你我都能信任的好角色。

Imagine fostering such a public-focused mindset

想像一下

在大學甚至高中課堂上、 在社區服務、

in classes, on service trips and during activities

during college or even high school,

在活動裡培養這種大眾至上的心態，

so that these young minds will hold onto those ideals

如此一來這些年輕的心 會牢牢抓住這些理想，

when they actually enter the real world,

伴隨他們進入真實的世界，

whether that be consulting, academia, policy making --

無論是顧問業、學界還是政界，

or even becoming the president of a country.

甚至是成為一國的總統。

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

橫在我們面前的 是人類極困難的挑戰；

contaminated drinking water is just one example.

汙染的飲用水只是其中之一。

We could definitely use more --

我們一定可以使用更多──

nay, we desperately need more -- compassionate upstanders

不對，我們亟需更多── 充滿同情心而見義勇為的人，

and public-focused scientists and engineers

以及服務大眾的科學家及工程師，

who will strive to the do right thing,

他們會努力做正確的事，

and not be easy to manage.

而且不會很好管！

Thank you.

謝謝！

(Applause)

（掌聲）