Rupert Sheldrake, author of "Seven Experiments That Could Change The World" took time to discuss with PsiNews imminent changes in conventional science.
JR: How did this book come about and who or what was the inspiration for it?
RS: The immediate stimulus was a meeting with the Board of Directors for the Institute of Noetic Sciences. The Board was discussing new projects and they asked me what I'd do if I wanted to change science as we know it. On the spur of the moment, I replied that I'd like to make a list of low budget experiments that would change the world. That evening at dinner in London, several Board members asked if I would be interested in writing a book. This was a result of a spur of the moment suggestion, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Originally I had thought of 20 experiments that would change the world. The agents and publishers thought it was too many, so I narrowed it down to seven.
JR: Why are you so personally fascinated by experiments?
RS: Well, I spent a career of over 25 years in empirical research. I realize that the way forward in science is new data. I studied philosophy at Harvard and have a great interest in it. However, we need more data, not more philosophies. I think the experiments in the book would yield interesting data.
JR: Are you aware of how 'hard core' science has accepted your book?
RS: It depends what you mean. Some people within regular sciences really like the book and find it fascinating and intriguing. Some others can't stand what I am doing and are infuriated at the concept of bringing science back to the public. Those are the scientific fundamentalists. I do give many talks on this subject at mainstream universities and they seem to be very well attended.
JR: Are you implying that science may be done by anyone?
RS: Yes. I am suggesting far more people can participate in science. Historically, science was open to anyone who was interested. For instance, Charles Darwin had no University grant or fellowship and yet he did highly innovative research. If he had been constrained by peer reviewed grant applications, he may not have been able to contribute to science in the same way. I think science could be liberated by people who are free to ask questions that interest them. One reason that I deliberately chose these experiments is that they can be done on a low budget. Innovative research can be done by anyone, amateurs...retired people... I'd like to see this open up a symbiotic relationship between amateurs, students and professionals who are free to question established science.
JR: I understand you recently attended a meeting in San Francisco. There were many well respected and credentialed scientists in attendance. Did you get any impression from them that they realize science needs to be changed?
RS: I attended the State of the World Forum sponsored by the Gorbachev Foundation and took part in several panel discussions on the future of science and technology. I also sat in on a few roundtable discussions chaired by Prof. Roy of Penn. State and Arnold Pensias, a nobel laureate and President of AT&T. They both made it quite clear that in relation to science, business as usual was not on the agenda. Funding is being cut accross the board. Large laboratories will be made redundant. Old style multi-million dollar labs are out of touch. Science has ceased helping or improving our standard of life.
The attitude of big science is making public opinion less accepting. This shift in public opinion together with the budget cuts affecting science will force a shift in focus. Fewer and fewer people are going into science fields. It is getting harder to recruit people in graduate and post-doc programs. That's why a new approach is something that will invigorate science from the ground up like in the Seven Experiments attempt to regenerate science education. My focus is on research that will cost close to nothing and accessible to everyone.
JR: Your book has just been published in the United States. Any word on how it's doing?
RS: I don't know. The book has been available in the United Kingdom for over a year and is now translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. Soon Dutch and Japanese versions will be published.
JR: Does Rupert Sheldrake want to change the world?
RS: Yes. Who doesn't? I think that many of the problems we have come from a far too narrow scientific paradigm or model of reality which creates a split between the mind of educated people and their feelings and experience. This creates a split in our entire culture which is at the root of our ecological crisis and the sense of alienation and loss of meaning. I think a more holistic and inclusive scientific approach will help heal this split and improve our relations with the natural world around us and each other.
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