For and against [Debate Science Fiction]

I´m very positive towards science fiction. Too often in science everything is defined by equations, which leads us to think that we know all we need to know. I think that sci-fi opens that up, and I find that as a scientist it opens my eyes to other possibilities. When you´re doing research that´s important. I´m sometimes asked how I feel about people who are essentially from the world of the arts commenting on my world. I look at this two ways: first, if you´re talking about fantasy sci-fi then that´s a different ball game and that isn´t really on the table for me. But second, and more generally, a lot of sci-fi has a serious, present day scientific basis to it, where the authors are starting to look outside the box. If there isn´t seriousness of intent then I find it hard to believe. But when it´s done with science ´as we know it´, and the author is attempting to extrapolate on that in unusual directions, then I can find the results quite credible.