'Of War and Peace, and Chemistry': A new commentary co-written by a UP chemistry expert

TWO chemistry experts recently published an article titled "Of War and Peace, and Chemistry," which highlights the critical role of chemistry in both enabling warfare and fostering international peace and security.

Imee Su Martinez of the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC) and Günter Povoden of the University of Technology Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Vienna, Austria authored the commentary.

While chemistry greatly contributed to the world’s advancement, it also threatens human health and safety. PHOTO FROM UPD-CS/MICHAEL GLAZIER, UNSPLASH

"Its [chemistry's] ability to metamorphosize from friend to foe, from peaceful compounds to weaponries simply by breaking and forming chemical bonds, keeps us wary of its power," the authors mentioned in the commentary.

The commentary describes chemistry's role in perpetuating wars – from its use in ancient and indigenous warfare to industrial-scale 20th-century chemical weapons.

Chemistry was also a key player in global conflicts such as World War I and II, as well as in recent events like the sarin gas attacks in Syria and Japan, among others.

"In a show of international solidarity and abhorrence for chemical weapons, on Jan. 13, 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention was opened for signature in Paris and was signed by 130 countries in the first two days," the authors shared.

The Chemical Weapons Convention is currently enforced by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Martinez and Povoden noted that while emerging technologies – such as high-throughput experimentation, drones, 3D printing, artificial intelligence or AI and synthetic biology – offer various opportunities for societal development, they also pose risks that people should be wary of, such as the misuse of toxic substances.

Serving both as a reflection and a call to action, the commentary urges the global scientific community to ensure that new discoveries do not misuse the power of chemistry.

"The 'peaceful use of chemistry' is a phrase that requires not only vigilance to be constantly implemented but generations and generations of developing a 'chemical conscience' in each new chemical practitioner and chemical disarmament policy maker, through science advice, communication, and education," Martinez and Povoden said, calling for responsible innovation.

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