LETTERS: To overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists have been busy researching the science of the virus.
Some have shared their findings in medical journals such as the Lancet, such as how the virus is mutating and how this is making testing a challenge.
There are also articles elucidating on the disease-causing mechanism of the virus.
Many experts are still debating as to whether the virus attacks the lungs or other organs of the body.
Recently, some researchers have also highlighted a thickening of the blood but there is as yet no conclusive evidence.
Many research discussions have also been shared on social media. This is healthy as creating science literacy is a global agenda. The public now have a chance to witness the complex process of generating scientific knowledge.
It is good that science is under such public scrutiny. Many agree that science is among the tools vital in managing the outbreak.
Malaysia is among the countries which have delegated the management of the pandemic to science.
The Director General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who has been receiving international praise for his leadership in managing the crisis, has shown excellent articulation in his daily briefings.
He has communicated well even to the lay person on the science of the pandemic.
This has helped persuade the general public to follow the many recommendations on social distancing and hygiene.
South Korea, Germany, Singapore, China and Japan are also working closely with scientists from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in pursuing solutions.
The world should salute the people at WHO for their work and vigilance. Many agree the criticisms against them have been unfounded and uncalled for.
What has become clear is the growing respect for science. It has always been on low priority when it comes to budgeting. The interest among students to pursue science has also been declining.
In Malaysia, the target to achieve 60 per cent enrolment in science has never been achieved. It is now lingering at below 30 per cent.
In a way, Covid-19 may be a saviour for science. There is now greater urgency among world leaders to invest more in science as well as research and development (R&D).
This way, more students may be interested to take up science. This augurs well for a world which faces many uncertainties that threaten our livelihood and derail the sustainability agenda.
One such force is climate change. It may be a bigger threat to humanity than the current pandemic. Scientists have conclusve evidence that global warming can disrupt the world's climate.The data warns of people being displaced by rising sea levels, diseases being unleashed from disturbed habitats and food production disrupted because of weather disturbances.
The United Nations has been trying hard to mobilise global action through international climate agreements. Success continues to be elusive because a few world policy decision-makers do not trust science.
However, many are confident this may change after Covid-19.
During the current pandemic, the halt in economic activities has healed the environment, with visibly improved air and river quality.
This corroborate the scientific reasoning that Man is basically to blame for the worsening of the global environment. Again, the solution lies in science.
PROFESSOR DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Fellow, Academy of Sciences, UCSI University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times