OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 42
THE COLUMN
so, too, a chemist (a practitioner
of “the central science”) connects
communities of scientists; in my
case, to direct the orchestra of
drug discovery to collaboratively
produce a “performance” that
generates solutions to unmet
medical needs. The attention
to detail and analytical acumen
developed during my scientific
training allows me to approach
a rehearsal as an “experiment” in
which a single variable is modified
at a time, yielding fresh musical
insights. Critical aspects of
music-making such as empathy,
teamwork, time management
and effective communication
can benefit any career.
Recently, my team at UCT
wrote a commentary piece in the
scientific journal Nature Medicine
emphasising the importance of
creating a sustainable scientific
ecosystem to encourage graduates
to stay in South Africa, reversing
our brain drain. Perhaps an
apparent lack of (secure, exciting,
inclusive, lucrative?) employment
opportunities is one reason our
school-leavers are less enthusiastic
to pursue the sciences. Or perhaps
we need more visible scientific
role models. (If so, let us galvanise
our OD networks!) We need
to champion exploration and
discovery, avoiding overly rigid
curricula that may stifle curiosity.
This will help us to train thinking
leaders who are capable of
driving scientific and biomedical
advancements tailored to South
Africa’s socioeconomic needs,
catalysing the transformation of
our collective health and dignity
(and pockets!). Importantly – as
Bishops does so well – we need to
maintain a strong arts programme.
And, somehow, we need to
demonstrate that these different
disciplines are not in competition
but are complementary; that we
can combine these skill sets in
40 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
ways that are unconventional
and rewarding.
My impending 20-year school
reunion has reminded me of the
enormous privilege of attending
an institution that allowed me to
cultivate diverse interests. I was
delighted to address the Bishops
Science Café earlier this year
– and, last year, in a full-circle
moment, I shared my research
with the Democritus Science
Society, which I myself had led
two decades previously together
with Vincent Hare (2005G). As
an adult, I find that there are
still opportunities for vibrant
intellectual gatherings, with the
quarterly “Symposium”, hosted
by Dr Paul Murray and at which
ODs convene at a reputable local
pizzeria to discuss the big questions
of our time, being a highlight; once
again, an occasion to connect our
different cognitive communities.
It is not for nothing that the poster
in Paul’s K-block classroom has
always stuck in my mind: Carpe
diem quam minimum credula postero
– “Seize the day! Put no trust in
the future.” We are running out
of time!
I am anxious about our future.
We cannot rely on our shortsighted
leaders or our corporations to save
us from the vagaries of climate
change, to improve global health
or to champion the rights of
animals. Instead, we need artists
to remind us what is worth saving,
and scientists to propose rational
solutions. Each of us must do our
bit – by using evidence to guide
our actions, by being healthily
sceptical, and by actively
disseminating information
only from reliable sources.
But there is hope. At his State
of the Nation address this year,
President Ramaphosa spoke about
our need to “stand for our shared
humanity”. How better to do this
than to support mankind’s two
Music (and science!) man
John Woodland.
greatest accomplishments? That
is, the scientific enterprise that
underpins our modern existence,
and our species’ outstanding
artistic output – from the euphoric
melodies of Tchaikovsky and the
intricate detail of Michelangelo’s
sculptures to Vermeer’s finest
brush strokes and the existential
musings of Shakespeare.
These are the two sides of the
same coin of our shared humanity.
We desperately need a holistic
agenda that draws on tangible
lessons learnt from an enriching
synthesis of these essential,
not dissimilar, disciplines –
and we need to instil this in
future learners who, inspired
by the best school environment,
will endeavour to right the course
of our world. Scientists who will
discover truth, and artists who will
dream of beauty… The words of
the late iconic songstress Sibongile
Khumalo, from her hit “Warriors
for Peace”, come to mind:
Fearless we are
We are warriors for peace
We are more than champions
A people with heart.
We embrace the gift of healing.
We are healers and teachers
We are seekers of truth
We are called on by spirit
We are dreamers who do.
