Award Winners Reminded How
Open Inquiry Leads Toward
New Discoveries

Suzanne Kresta, P.Eng., PhD "The questions which may today look like aimless curiosity lay the foundations for the next century's legacy of knowledge."

Drawing on the insight of the prominent 19th century British scientist Thomas Huxley, Professor Suzanne Kresta, P.Eng., PhD, reminded those attending an APEGGA Excellence in Education Event in Edmonton on Oct. 29 of the value of free inquiry.

The gathering and a similar one in Calgary on Oct. 28 honoured those receiving awards and scholarships presented through the APEGGA Education Foundation.

"Each of (the awards) represents not only a good deal of hard work, but a special talent for studies in engineering and science," said Dr. Kresta, professor of chemical engineering, at the university of Alberta, and the 1998 recipient of both the APEGGA Early Accomplishment Award and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers' Young Engineer Achievement Award. Those honoured at the Excellence in Education event, she noted, are partners "in the next generation of discoveries and technical advances." Echoing Huxley's assertions that progress occurs through the interaction between inquiry and invention, Dr. Kresta also repeated his warning that "we should not regard science and engineering as a sort of fairy godmother ready to provide us with all the comforts we desire, if we but uncover her secrets. With all knowledge comes responsibility. We disregard the responsibility and the potential dangers at our own risk.

"So often , the great discoveries that benefit our lives are the result of general inquiry which sometimes seemed only remotely connected with the eventual outcome. For instance, Louis Pasteur's germ theories arose from work he did on silk worms.

"The questions which may today look like aimless curiosity lay the foundations for the next century's legacy of knowledge," Dr. Kresta stressed. "Real problems will always stimulate and motivate this process in a healthy interaction between science, engineering, and engineering science _ but the spirit of free inquiry is the crucial ingredient."