During the SAF National Convention keynote address, Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, characterized science as a search for understanding that is heavily influenced by the questions being asked. Drawing on a very human connection between social and physical science, she suggested that individual perceptions limit the scope of scientific research in the world today and that widened perceptions would result in better-framed scientific questions, and therefore better results. Dr. Jemison believes that 60 to 70 percent of future societal problems will be solved by science and technology. The other 30 to 40 percent will be solved by random chance events. In order to address future problems effectively, the relationship between science and technology must be clearly understood.
Technology is a tool for the practical application of science.
To develop appropriate technologies, first the right scientific questions must be asked. Dr. Jemison indicated that the right questions should be geared toward the sustainability of world resources. Peaceful versus provocative national postures. Politics that involve the public in decisions they have to respect. She explained that nature is not outside ourselves but that we are a part of nature.