BREXIT Mind Jumbo Mumbo #1

In this first installment of Mind Jumbo Mumbo, I will discuss an issue that has been largely dormant in my brain for the past 12 months. This is largely due to my inability to consider this issue without imparting negative impact on the emotional level. While this may still be the case (Profanities or other inappropriate content have been edited out), a deadline previously looming is now fast approaching, demanding more urgent action.

The issue of course, is BREXIT, the UK leaving the EU, thereby abandoning a relationship that has prospered and delivered wealth, freedom and stability for decades. So what is my beef?

I have a problem with our perception of culture and identity. The idea that in some ways, society is immutable while in other ways communities are expected to evolve in order to keep up with change and stay relevant.

If there is one community that has required change over the years, it is those made up of scientists. Whether it has been the need to justify research (importance), its usefulness (economics), trustworthiness (conduct, fact vs. belief and so on) or relevance (policy and regulation), scientific communities continuously have needed to evolve their practices to thrive or arguably survive. By doing so, we (scientists) have embraced the project (to discover and learn) rather then the process, practices, people and the flaws therein, that are so much needed to drive it forward.

How is this related to BREXIT? In my opinion, the UK exiting the EU is the result of a strong collective desire to preserve some form of national identity and practices. They are the practices and processes that scientists have learned to adapt. Arguably, this is akin to insisting that on the basis of advances achieved through early observational science, experimental and hypothesis driven research is bollocks. We know its not.

This raises the question: What is the national project? For me, the answer is that we don't have one and that this is the problem in the first place. By surrendering our desire to make the world a better place as a nation and by failing to embrace a grand goal, we have opened the door to those that portray themselves as leaders (where they are not) and act out of greed and self interest rather then a common goal.

The result? A focus on the mode of transportation, rather then the destination; seeking flaws outwith the national realm, other then our own and a desire to celebrate and return to the past, littered with disaster, rather then drawing the lessons to better ourselves.

BREXIT is more then exiting the EU. To me it represents an abandonment from vision, hope and purpose.