Why Study the History of BME, Science, and Technology? [Retrospectroscope]

Clear in my memory are the dry history classes of my elementary and high school years … battles, wars, revolutions, violence, generals, and admirals (often presented as heroes)—classes full of mostly irrelevant names and dates unnecessarily overloading our heads. Oh, how strong were the antibodies I developed against all that stuff! Conversely, little, if anything, was said about arts, science, and technology, essentially ignoring the huge and transcendental benefits to humankind generously offered by so many practically forgotten men and women. A movie, TV, or sports star gets more common recognition.