There has never been a time when 'following the science' has been more important for humanity.
At no other point in history have we had such advanced knowledge and technology at our
fingertips nor had such astonishing capacity to determine the future of our planet. But the
decisions we must make on how science is applied belong outside the lab and should be the
outcome of wide public debate. For that to happen science needs to become part of our common
culture. Science is not just for scientists: if it were it could never save us from the
multiple crises we face. For science can save us if its innovations mesh carefully into
society and its applications are channelled for the common good. As Martin Rees argues in this
expert and personal analysis of the scientific endeavour on which we all depend we need to
think globally we need to think rationally and we need to think long-term empowered by
twenty-first-century technology but guided by values that science alone cannot provide.
