Science, engineering, and humanity

This paper discusses the important role scientists and engineers play in societal prosperity. Today, as the gaps between societies, cultures, religions, and races widen and deepen at a frightful rate - enhanced by shortsighted and fundamentalist politicians - it is their obligation to actively foster intercultural contacts. Occasions for intercultural encounters are abundant in academia. In the academic realm, unconditional honesty forms the very first basic law that should not be violated under any conditions without grave consequences. The world sometimes might appear to be in a hopeless disarray that increases day by day. Nevertheless, scientists and engineers are asked to follow the advice of the great science philosopher Karl Popper that optimism is their duty and they are responsible for what will come.