How are Bohr and Paul Berg related and what do they have to do with social responsibility?

Question

I have an assignment in my History of Sciences and Technologies course. We are supposed to create a dialogue between Bohr and Paul Berg. The Prompt is:

Complete a close reading of the selected primary and secondary sources. Write a dialogue (like a play) between Niels Bohr, a nuclear physicist, and Paul Berg, a biologist / geneticist in which each tells the other what the social responsibility of scientists should be and why. Keep in mind that the political contexts of Post World War II atomic physics and 1970s recombinant DNA are very different. You may want the two to point these differences out to one another. In your dialogue you should have each scientist explain his position while the other asks questions to flesh out the argument. Try to incorporate the central themes of the readings, which include scientific secrecy, public opinion, etc. Before beginning, ask yourself these questions and seriously think about how they should be answered: What is or should be the role of government in the regulation of science guidelines and policies? What is the political role of the scientist and does that role change in times of war and times of peace? If so, how do those roles change? Are the two addressing the same audiences? Does Bohr’s role in the Manhattan Project undermine the legitimacy of his letter to the UN? Compare the summary statement of the Asilomar Conference with Bohr’s Letter to the UN in terms of outcomes and consequences.

Although I have read both the readings provided, they are very confusing and complicated and I am not sure how to answer the questions my teacher is asking because I don't understand what happened. Can anyone explain to me how Bohr and Paul are related or how their work is related to "social responsibility?"

Answer 1

Niels Bohr

1. Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist known for his foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics.
2. During World War II, Bohr was involved in the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb.

Social Responsibility:

1. After the war, Bohr became an advocate for peaceful uses of nuclear energy and international cooperation on nuclear weapons.
2. He wrote a letter to the United Nations advocating for openness and cooperation among nations to prevent nuclear war.
3. His involvement in the Manhattan Project highlights the ethical dilemmas scientists face when their work can be used for both destructive and beneficial purposes.

Paul Berg

1. Paul Berg is an American biochemist and geneticist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on recombinant DNA.
2. In the 1970s, Berg and his colleagues were at the forefront of genetic engineering, which raised concerns about the potential risks and ethical implications.

Social Responsibility:

1. Berg played a key role in organizing the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA in 1975, where scientists discussed the potential dangers of genetic engineering and established guidelines for safe research practices.
2. This conference was a proactive effort by scientists to self-regulate and address public concerns about the implications of their work.

Comparing Bohr and Berg

Differences in Context:

1. Post-WWII Atomic Physics (Bohr): The political context was dominated by the Cold War and the threat of nuclear weapons. The role of scientists was heavily intertwined with national security and global peace.
2. 1970s Recombinant DNA (Berg): The political context involved emerging biotechnologies with unknown risks, this led to debates on bioethics and the regulation of scientific research.

Social Responsibility Themes:

1. Scientific Secrecy vs. Openness: Bohr advocated for openness and transparency to prevent misuse of nuclear technology, while Berg supported careful regulation and public discussion to manage the risks of genetic engineering.
2. Public Opinion: Both scientists recognized the importance of public trust and the need for scientists to engage with society to explain their work and its implications.
3. Role of Government: Both Bohr and Berg saw a role for the government in regulating science, but they also emphasized the responsibility of scientists to guide ethical standards and inform policy.