👉Communicative area: reading, listening and speaking about science in Belarus
👉Active vocabulary: to think outside the box, scientific paper, prospect, perspective, to make a contribution
Play "Snowball" with the names of different sciences (S1 names a science, S2 repeats the words and adds a new one, S3 repeats their words and adds one more, etc.)
What is your attitude to school science subjects? Are they important?
Read about the future of science and technology in Belarus.
2. What science careers will be in demand?
3. What are the prospects of scientific development in Belarus?
4. From an international perspective, can Belarusian science make an important contribution to the progress of the humanity?
R&D in RB
What do you think this article is about? You shouldn’t confuse the abbreviation in the title with a music style. It has nothing to do with R&B – rhythm and blues, which is popular African-American music. It is research and development or RTD – research and technological development: future-oriented, long-term activities in science and technology which are an important factor in the survival of a country’s economy.
What do scientists all over the world are focusing on now? How are they investing in the future? The spheres of their attention are:
- the artificial growing of human organs;
- artificial cells with a special collection of genes;
- the creation of nanomedications with programmed qualities;
- the creation of microrobots able to carry out manipulations in human organs;
- the creation of an artificial intelligence that can surpass the human brain;
- the creation of thought-controlled or sensor-controlled electronic machines;
- the development of smart city technologies, etc.
The head of the National Academy of Sciences thinks that Belarusian science is up-to-date with the modern trends. Belarusian biologists and doctors are actively working with the DNA and have already learnt how to edit the human genome. Some time ago, the National Centre for genome biotechnologies started working in the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Physicists and information science specialists are working to develop the AI. They have already trained machines how to talk, read, communicate, and fulfil commands.
Work is continuing in the space industry as well. Belarus is working on the creation of a new satellite for the remote sensing of the Earth with a very high resolution – 0.35 metres. It is the world’s best achievement today.
Every year hundreds of patents are registered. Belarusian science and technology are becoming very competitive in the world market. Plasma and laser technologies, biotechnologies and information processes, chemical synthesis of substances are the areas with a high scientific and technological potential. The achievements of scientific schools that are known worldwide and have been recognised internationally lie mainly in the sphere of mathematics, theoretical physics, spectroscopy and luminescence, electronics, automation, thermophysics, machine building, geology, bioorganic chemistry, physiology, genetics, selection, soil science, cardiology, surgery, linguistics and other sciences. The results of some researchers have become scientific discoveries.
2. Why should the abbreviation in the title not be confused with R&B music?
3. Name at least three fields of research and development mentioned in the text.
4. How are Belarusian scientists working with DNA and the human genome?
5. What is Belarus's achievement in space technology?
6. What scientific areas is Belarus actively developing with high potential?
7. Which scientific fields are noted as having well-known international achievements?
8. What is the significance of the high-resolution satellite mentioned in the text?
9. How do Belarusian scientists contribute to the world market of science and technology?
10. Can you name three scientific disciplines where Belarusian researchers have made important discoveries?
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