Physics will continue to underpin all science and technology for the foreseeable future. Physics is and will continue to be essential for analysing and solving urgent environmental and energy problems. Physics is global and constitutes our best 'anti-Babel'. Generations of physicists of the most diverse political and cultural backgrounds have collaborated on the basis of shared understanding and shared ideals. Some general problems currently faced by science Many people feel that science robs the world of meaning and this deeply affects their attitude to science.
Science is felt by many people to be 'cold' and 'alienating'.
Modern forms of irrationality are becoming widespread and sometimes involve outright opposition to scientific attitudes and even scientific knowledge. There is sometimes an unfortunate, even dangerous, political aspect. There is a serious 'authority problem' in modern life with few people able to make rational judgements as to who or what to believe. This is reflected in a widespread relativism improperly invoking Einstein. Similarly, Heisenberg is improperly invoked in promoting the idea that everything is uncertain anyway.