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I try to do my science in a moral way, and, I believe that, ideally, science should be looked upon as something that helps us understand our role in the universe.
Vera Rubin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Science should be conducted ethically and seen as a tool for understanding our place in the universe.

Vera Rubin emphasizes the moral responsibility that comes with scientific inquiry, highlighting that science should not only seek to unveil the mysteries of the universe but should also guide us in understanding our ethical and existential positions within it. By elevating science beyond mere experimentation and observation, Rubin advocates for a perspective where scientific knowledge enriches our comprehension of life and our responsibilities as stewards of knowledge.

Themes

ScienceMoralityUniverseUnderstandingEthics

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the ethical implications of scientific research during a science conference.

More from Vera Rubin

In a spiral galaxy, the ratio of dark-to-light matter is about a factor of ten. That's probably a good number for the ratio of our ignorance-to-knowledge. We're out of kindergarten, but only in about third grade.
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We need senators who have studied physics and representatives who understand ecology.
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Nobody ever told us all matter radiated. We just assumed it did.
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There was just nothing as interesting in my life as watching the stars every night.
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I had the usual friends who pointed out constellations of stars. But it really was watching the stars. It was getting some sense of the motion of the earth. I found it a remarkable thing.
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I think the question is, are there women and have there been women who want to do science and could be doing great science, but they never really got the opportunity?
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