Excellence in Science for Society
Science advances our knowledge of the world but it also generates innovations that improve health and quality of life.
An estimated 253 million people worldwide live with vision impairment, many with little access to diagnostic tests and treatments. Dr. Andrew Bastawrous, an ophthalmologist and Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, pioneered a smartphone-based eye examination kit that can be operated by non-specialists to screen for common eye diseases and is used in Kenya, Botswana and India, where it expands access to eye care to remote communities.
Dr. Bastawrous will talk about his work to help eradicate preventable blindness. He will exchange with Prof. Aaron Ciechanover and the audience on how scientists can find new ways to benefit society. How can scientific curiosity lead to advances that address human needs, such as access to healthcare? How to balance a commitment to research and concern for what happens out of the lab or in low-resource contexts? How to combine excellence in science and impact on society?