The pandemic of irresponsibility: Science must rethink!

The pandemic of irresponsibility: Science must rethink!

An insightful community evening took place in the Malchower Church, at which Prof. Dr. Roland Wiesendanger, Professor of Experimental Solid State Physics at the University of Hamburg, spoke about ethics and morals in science. Loud Northern Courier He praised the commitment of Pastor Thomas Dietz, who has worked intensively on coming to terms with the corona crisis. Wiesendanger brought complicated topics to the table by discussing the origins of viruses that have claimed millions of lives worldwide.

His thesis that coronaviruses were not transmitted from bats to humans via an intermediate host, as is often assumed, caused divided opinions. He speaks of specifically biotechnologically manipulated viruses that were researched under unsafe conditions in order to increase their transmissibility to humans. “This is not a natural disaster,” warned Wiesendanger and criticized the fact that there is often a questionable arrogance in science.

The controversy surrounding the origin of SARS-CoV-2

The discussion about the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is anything but new. Recent information that has come to light through emails in the United States illustrates the heated debate that Wiesendanger addressed in his address. He is convinced that the virus probably came from a laboratory in Wuhan, which contradicts the common belief that it is of natural origin, such as NZZ reported. These claims are based on the fact that no identified intermediate host for the virus has yet been found.

A significant detail that Wiesendanger highlighted was a 2016 US patent from Moderna that suggested possible links to a man-made origin of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, there is evidence of hybrid viruses that have been described in the specialist literature since 2015. He called for a comprehensive investigation into what was happening at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in order to gain more clarity about the origin of the virus.

Ethical responsibility in science

The scientific ethicist Wiesendanger appealed to researchers to live up to their responsibility for the social impact of their work. He sees it as crucial for the public to be more involved in scientific issues. This is particularly important when it comes to understanding and reflecting on the potential consequences of research. How academics.de addresses, morally correct action requires careful consideration and reflection on the consequences of one's own actions.

Past scientific missteps show that the establishment of ethical standards and a methodologically critical approach to research are essential. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that not only researchers, but also society and politics share responsibility for future scientific projects.

Given the severe global challenges created by the pandemic, it is time to consider in which direction science should move. Wiesendanger's calls for greater ethical standards and social participation could be the key to learning from the crisis and acting more responsibly.