|
| |
Philosophy
of the Bronowski Institute
The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience was established on
the premise that the scientist is morally obligated to pursue his work
to the ultimate end of providing benefit to mankind. His curiosity to
discover the hidden truth in nature fuels his desire to spend hours in
the laboratory observing, recording, calculating and hypothesising if
only to unravel the smallest component of natures' matrix.
As he observes what all others have seen for eons before him,
somehow, he sees something that no one else has ever seen. And nothing
will keep him from this.
No matter what institution is at the focus of social control:
the church, the state or even the intellectual collective itself, no one
can discourage him from doing what he has to do. Neither can he be
discouraged from sharing this with the rest of humanity. If there is
only a glimmer of hope that his discovery will improve the human
condition, that human ignorance and suffering will be lessened by his
perseverance and devotion, then he is bound by moral compunction to let
it be known.
The philosophy of the Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience
is portrayed in its official motif.
The plight of renowned scientists like Einstein, the Curies and Galileo
are classic examples of how many have suffered at the hand of public and
professional ridicule, exploitation and intellectual suppression, and
yet these great people never gave up.
While most of us will endeavour for a lifetime to achieve only a
fraction of what these great men and woman of science have achieved, we
may still do ourselves the greatest service by modelling ourselves after
them.
This is the reason why the Bronowski Institute has come to be.
The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience
is named in honour
of the late Professor Jacob Bronowski, who is one of the founders of the Salk Institute in
La Jolla, California. The founders of the Bronowski Institute endeavour
to acknowledge Professor Bronowski's dedication to his portrayal of
science, in the context of serving mankind. This concept is best
illustrated in his works including "The Ascent of Man" and "Science and
Human Values".
Most importantly, he
emphasised the unparalleled importance of creativity, camaraderie,
morality and freedom of thought in the process of scientific
practice. The Bronowski Institute has been established with the
specific intent of encouraging these attributes and letting scientists
get on with doing what they do best- practicing science.
Scientific Program
During the first eleven years of operation major advances have been made
at the Institute in three areas of biomedical and agricultural science.
A new class of drugs has been identified which will improve the
treatment of Parkinson's disease. These drugs are currently undergoing
development for use in humans.
Non-invasive methods for the treatment and management of Parkinson's
disease are also under development.
In the second major area of research new methods for the
detoxification and recycling of heavy metal contaminated waste have been
developed. This work will have a beneficial impact on ecological
balance.
The third area of research involves study of the environmental
factors that influence production and reproductive status in dairy
cattle. Major advances have been achieved that will prove beneficial to
the dairy industry.
The Bronowski Institute has undertaken projects in collaboration with
and under the advice of several domestic and international academic
institutions, hospitals and major commercial organisations.
The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience is a fully
licensed scientific establishment, incorporated in 1993 and registered
as a not-for profit organisation. The affairs of the Institute are
governed by a committee of management and all scientific matters are
monitored by an experimental ethics committee. All scientific and
clinical work is undertaken by fully qualified and experienced
psychologists, medical practitioners and scientists.
|
