Guest Author: Rauful Alam
Writer and Researcher
Email: [email protected]
In 1776, two significant events took place in the world. One was the independence of America, and the other was the invention of the steam engine.
That year, James Watt invented the modern steam engine. For the first time, people realized that machines could be made to do work. The era of automation began. With the advent of the steam engine came the railway. The British started earning enormous amounts of money and became even stronger economically and politically. The Industrial Revolution began in Europe.
Perhaps there is no better example than the steam engine of how a single innovation can change the whole world.
We must study and practice science to create new knowledge. For new discoveries and innovations. To search for answers to many unknown questions.
At that time, Britain’s main political rival was France. For France to compete with Britain, it needed to invent something like the steam engine or improve upon it. But how was that possible?
A 24-year-old Frenchman noticed that although the steam engine had caused a great stir and was making Britain commercially prosperous, the full mechanism of how the steam engine worked was still unknown. The young man began to ponder this very question: How does it really work?
Through his research on the steam engine, the young man wrote a book—Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire! The young man’s name was Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot. Carnot is one of the most brilliant young minds in the history of science. It was through him that the branch of science known as thermodynamics began.
The study of how heat energy transforms into mechanical energy or motion gave birth to thermodynamics. This knowledge later helped us to invent many more types of engines. The car engine is another example.
At that time, Britain’s main political rival was France. For France to compete with Britain, it needed to invent something like the steam engine or improve upon it.
Therefore, we must study and practice science to create new knowledge. For new discoveries and innovations. To search for answers to many unknown questions. Practicing science not only increases a society’s economic prosperity but also establishes the culture of logical thinking and questioning within society.
To establish a culture of scientific research in society, there is a need for state-level activism at the school level. For this, there is no alternative to appointing quality teachers, modernizing science education, and sparking students’ joy in science through hands-on experiments.
References:
This piece was compiled from an article published in Biggan Chinta magazine.
Author: Dr. Rauful Alam, Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
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