Wrapping Up the Course (11/11)

At first I believed that physics and politics only intersected during wartime, however I am beginning to see how they are more intertwined on a daily basis. It is surprising how much science and technology are involved in politics. In today’s world, it seems like these two separate areas are one in the same.

In this class, it was interesting to study the progression of certain technologies and see how they were used by governments and peoples during the time. Governments are still using nuclear technologies and bombs to influence policy. These issues and entanglements are still happening in our world. For example, we briefly discussed one class how the chemical society wanted to exclude members from Iran. Is this fair or legal? What if Iranians are naturalized in other countries? Would they count as working for America for instance or Iran? Should our politic situation in these countries really affect such a prestigious scientific organization? In this case, sometimes politics extends too far into things. Just like the atomic bomb was made to protect our national security during the 1940s and decisions were rashly made, we have new bills that limit our privacy for the sake of “national security,” such a vague phrase. It is surely fascinating how much of a difference there is in science when politics are used by leaders to get their way.

When I first signed up for this course, I didn’t know quite what to expect. I was still unsure as well because the title “Physics and Politics” seemed a little vague. Looking back over my experiences throughout the course, I realize that this material was aptly named. The world we live in is shaped by the interaction of physics and politics of countries.