Opinion Paper

Written by Zain Hussain

INT. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION CONFERENCE ROOM (NIGHT)

There's a rectangular table in the center of the room. On one

side is three large ominous men in dark robes with shadows
shrouding their faces. This is THE COUNCIL. On the other side
is a small brown boy, dressed in suspenders and a lab coat.
This is ZAIN.

ZAIN
(stressed,rummaging through papers)
Greetings members of the financial
council. Thank you for being here.
Before we begin, is there anything the
council would like to address.

The three members of the council begin to deliberate between

each other in a low whisper for about 15 seconds and then
stop. One of the members sticks his head up.

THE COUNCIL
We do not have any qualms or troubles
to address. However, we would like to
remind you that we expect nothing but
exemplary work from you, Zain.

ZAIN
(sweating heavily)
Yes, my council. I understand the
severity of this situation, and the
consequences that my actions may have.

One of the council members grabs a TV remote from the table,

and flips on a monitor that is placed above the three council
members. On the screen a GIRL is tied and left dangling from
a rope, high atop a pool of sharks with lasers on their
heads.

THE COUNCIL
You understand that if the council
does not find your argument
convincing, the love of your life will
be executed via the tank of laser
sharks from Austin Powers?

ZAIN
(grinding teeth)
I understand, my council. May I begin
my presentation?

THE COUNCIL
You may.

Created using Celtx

 2.

Zain straightens his shirt, takes a deep breathe, and centers

himself, facing forward to the council members.

ZAIN
Hello esteemed members of the National
Science Foundation, today I will be
discussing how the NSF should be
distributing their finances to a
handful of government projects that it
oversees. In specific, there are five
projects which I will be discussing
and prioritizing. In no particular
order, these projects are: research
and development on revolutionary new
solar energy technology for the
International Space Station, research
into a treatment for Parkinson's
disease involving a rare plant that
may soon be extinct, research into
human nutrition to produce a low-cost,
high-yield food source in connection
with a joint US-Russia manned mission
to Mars, research in genetic
engineering focusing on animal immune
systems, and finally, research and
development of artificial intelligence
in computers to assist in the Search
for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
While all of these projects are highly
respectable, today I will provide
reason and rational as to why I
believe certain projects should be
prioritized over others.

Zain takes a breathe and steps aside, facing out the window.

ZAIN
Now, before I begin I would like to
lay out my framework for these
decisions. My singular focus is the
long term, large scale advancement of
science and technology on a universal
level. While many of my colleagues may
take a more humanist approach, I
insist that the duty of the National
Science Foundation is not to protect
humanity, but is to advance the study
and exploration of the natural world
through experimentation and the
scientific method. We are not looking
at how we can assist ourselves in the

Created using Celtx

 3.

next thirty to forty years, instead we

are looking at how we can advance our
understanding of the world for the
next hundreds of years. While some in
the scientific community may find this
approach to be idealistic, I prefer to
think of it as revolutionary. Similar
rhetoric was thrown towards some of
the greatest scientists of our time.
If humanity hadn't dreamt big we would
not have had Einstein, Newton, or
Galileo. I insist that this committee
should solely value projects with
large scale objectives that progress
our definition of the universe. Why
must we take small steps when we are
capable of making large leaps?

Zain paces from the window back to the center of the table,
picks out a blue folder, and holds it up towards the council.

ZAIN
I will carry on in order of most
importance to least, providing
reasoning for each of my choices.

Zain opens the blue folder.

ZAIN
To be direct, the first thing this
council should prioritize is the
research and development of Artificial
Intelligence in computers to assist in
the Search for Extraterrestrial Life.
The study and creation of artificial
intelligence is one of the fastest
growing fields not only in computer
science, but in the entire scientific
community. Scientific data collection
is becoming more and more complex, and
we are becoming overburdened with
terabytes of information that the
average human cannot even try to
process. We have become heavily
reliant on computing technology and it
has massively influenced the manner in
which science is conducted. I believe
Artificial Intelligence is the next
step in advancing the scientific
process, not only making it more
efficient, but also making it more

Created using Celtx

 4.

thorough and objective. This perfectly

aligns with my framework, as funding
this project could result in humongous
changes for science as a whole. AI can
be used for running experiments, data
analysis, storing and grouping
information, and many other functions
in almost every field of science. Now,
to look more specifically at the goal
of this project: The Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence. There
is no objective that is as ambitious
as this one. Humanities search for
extraterrestrial life is a long lived
quest that we have chosen to take on
in the name of science and
exploration. Funding this project is
important because there is no human
feat that could equate to finding
alien life, and we must strive to do
all we can in understanding our
existence and our universe. This
project could result in boundless
possibilities, and could redefine the
way in which we conduct science.

Zain glances at the monitor. She's still safe. He moves aside

to the second yellow folder, and holds it up to the council.

ZAIN
The second project which I claim
should be prioritized is the research
and development of new solar energy
technology for the International Space
Station. Energy efficiency is
currently one of the largest problems
in the world, with the dangerous
consequences of climate change looming
over the horizon. At a time like this,
funding research into solar energy
technology could result in the massive
change needed to protect our planet
and keep humanity alive. I have placed
this second in importance because
science cannot advance if there is no
one to conduct it. Currently, the
international space station is the
leading source of information about
living in space, and if the planet
continues to deteriorate, we might
need to consider our inhabitant

Created using Celtx

 5.

options away from earth. This project

will help us realistically entertain
this possibility and could provide
necessary information for our future.
While it is not certain, funding this
project could save humanity,
inevitably saving the entire study of
science.

Zain puts down the second folder, moves aside, and picks up
the third folder. It is red.

ZAIN
The third project to prioritize is the
research into human nutrition to
produce a low-cost, high-yield food
source in connection with a joint US-
Russia manned mission to Mars. This
project is not at the top or the
bottom of the list, but is instead
right in the middle. This is because
while the project could yield
promising results for science and the
exploration of other planets, I have
taken issue with certain practical
aspects of the project. As stated in
the previous choice, humanities search
for an alternative living situation is
a realistic and important problem that
must be addressed. For this to happen,
a consistent source of energy and food
is necessary. This project is
important because it could be integral
in establishing Mars as a haven for
humanity upon the possibility of
Earth's collapse. This fits into my
framework, as it can possibly expand
humanities range for scientific
exploration by hundreds or thousands
of years. However, I do have some
problems with the practicality of this
project, specifically the
intermingling of US and Russian
forces. While the two have worked
together in the past for the purpose
of science, with the current political
circumstances involving claims of
election fraud and corruption with the
Russian government, I believe this
project is not worthy of receiving the
most funding from NSF. Due to the

Created using Celtx

 6.

unstable relationship between the two

countries, and the unpredictable
nature of the political landscape, I
fear that this project has the chance
of falling apart and being disbanded,
either by the US or Russian
Government. Along with this, the
project could stir problems with the
general public, as the US Government
would inevitably be funding a semi-
Russian project-

A loud yelp is heard from the monitor. The girl is lowered

slightly, closer to her death. Zain hurriedly shuffles some
papers and puts them back into the red folder. Once more, he
steps aside and lifts the fourth folder. It is light green.

ZAIN
The fourth project in order of
priority is the research into genetic
engineering focusing on animal immune
systems. While this project could
result in practical advancements for
the cultivation of livestock and for a
steady food source on earth, I do not
believe this project should receive
priority over the other projects
mentioned. Firstly, this project is
relatively small in scale and does not
have a major impact on the study of
science itself. In comparison to the
other projects mentioned, this project
has a much more limited scope, and
does not necessarily affect science in
the ways that AI and space travel can.
The other projects have the potential
for massive impacts, possibly saving
the human race, and massively
increasing human efficiency. Members
of the scientific community and
general public might criticize my
approach by saying that genetic
engineering could result in saving
millions of human lives on earth and
ending world hunger. I would like to
retort by reaffirming that that is not
the goal of the National Science
Foundation. The goal is to preserve
and advance the study of science, and
in those terms, this project falls
short.

Created using Celtx

 7.

In a repetitive fashion, Zain lays down the light green

folder, and moves over to the last folder on the table. The
girl is now dangling dangerously near the surface of the
water. Zain lifts up a silver folder to the council.

ZAIN
The final project which I believe
deserves the least funding or priority
from the National Science Foundation
is the research into a treatment for
Parkinson's Disease involving a rare
plant that may soon be extinct. While
this project clearly has the most
support from the general public, I do
not believe that the National Science
Foundation has any obligation to fund
or support this project. Firstly, it
is stated in it's creation that the
National Science Foundation deals in
in all non-medical fields of science
and engineering. There is already an
organization that is specifically set
with the initiative of medicine, the
National Institutes of Health. This
project is clearly dealing with
medicine and treatment, and thus is a
matter for the NIH, not the NSF.
Secondly, this project is much tinier
in scope than the other projects.
While I have deep sympathy for those
diagnosed with Parkinson's, according
to Parkinson's News Today, there are
only approximately 10 million people
on the earth who suffer from
Parkinson's, which is a minimal 0.13%
of the entire population of the world.
This project does not necessarily
advance science in the long term and
does not have as wide a range of
potential impacts as the other
projects. It is for these reasons that
I deem this project be at the bottom
of the list.

Zain closes the silver folder and walks towards the center of
the conference table.

ZAIN
All of the projects mentioned have
great merit and are worthy of our time
and money. However, with the limited

Created using Celtx

 8.

resources that we have, decisions must

be made, and resources must be
allocated. I stand by my decisions as
I believe they stay true to the intent
of the National Science Foundation and
to the preservation of "pure" science.
Opponents of mine might argue that
"practical" science has a greater
value, but I do not believe this to be
true for the long term. Practical
science fixes short term problems on a
small scale, where as pure science
changes the way in which we view our
existence in a much broader sense. I
believe it is our duty as scientists
to continue exploring the boundless
potential of the universe and to focus
on making massive leaps, not small
steps. This is the role of the
National Science Foundation.

Silence.

Zain steps back and stares blankly at the shrouded faces of

the council. The Girl is struggling to remain awake as she
dangles atop the laser sharks.

THE COUNCIL
The Council has heard your opinion. We
will now deliberate over a result.

Zain stands ready, with his hands interlocked behind his

back. The members of The Council begin to speak to each other
in a hushed whisper for exactly 15 seconds, followed by a
silence. One of the members sticks his head up.

THE COUNCIL
While we enjoyed your thoroughness,
The Council has decided to prioritize
the treatment Parkinson's, solely for
the purpose of selling T-shirts and
monetizing off of the grief of others.
Parkinson's is much more marketable
than Artificial Intelligence and Marty
McFly is a better spokesperson than
Hal 9000. Your love shall be killed.

The Girl screams as her body drops down into the mortal
abyss. Zain falls to his knees. He is defeated.

Created using Celtx