Last updated 10th December 2004 by David Cuthbertson on behalf of the Professor LWJ Holleman Trust.
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David
Cuthbertson
Scientist / Philosopher /
Communicator
50 Balsdean Road
Brighton
Sussex
BN2 6PF
Telephone: (01387) 248753
E-mail: scienceinthegreen@yahoo.co.uk
My whole life has been driven by a desire to reach a deeper understanding of the natural world, and of science in general. The research program proposed by the Professor L.J.W. Holleman Trust may enable me to do just that.
As a child I was privileged to grow up surrounded by nature in our large wooded garden. Inspired by my environment, through patient observation, reading, and asking many questions, I embarked on my long and often challenging journey.
My teenage investigations were directed to the theoretical considerations of whether biology could be reduced to the fundamentals of pure mathematical physics. I was fascinated by the concept of a Grand Unification Theory. I wished for biology no longer to be the poor relation of the higher sciences. My belief then was in the elegant truths that were encapsulated within pure mathematics.
So as not to loose myself entirely to such head-games, I chose, as a specialist study, a small but fascinating group of arachnids, Pseudoscorpions. I read and observed all I could of all aspects of their biology. Macro-photography helped illustrate the talks that I gave. The opportunity to join the 1984 Aberdeen University Karakoram Expedition, Juniper Hall Field Studies Centre' facilities, and the Natural History Museum' library whilst in London, all enabled me to further my zoological studies.
Aberdeen University gave me a broad based background in the sciences. A summer research job, and later, Rothamsted Experimental Station provided me with an insight into the practical workings of science. At Rothamsted a friend with an interest in fringe science had many questions to ask about experimental design and the scientific method regarding the nature of proof. I declined his request for me to conduct research on the biological transmutation of chemical elements.
I had discovered that a career in science could be a dirty affair. Whilst at Juniper Hall I learnt about habitat destruction driven purely by political and economic considerations. In London I became involved in environmental, grassroots activism. Amongst other things I stood as local candidate for the Green Party. My involvement in community based activities lead me to consider the nature of my fellow human beings. Through studying the motivations of such inspirational people as Mahatma Gandhi, I realised for the first time that an entirely 'scientific', intellectual approach was not sufficient.
The work necessary to start bridge building, from objective reductionist science on the one hand, and our subjective selves on the other, was able to be furthered in depth in the anthroposophically based Grange-Oaklands community. It was here, through studying the works of Rudolf Steiner, that I learnt of the holistic, phenomenological scientific method developed by Goethe.
Moving to Holland, I was able to agree to a request to translate and interpret the biological transmutation research of Professor L.W.J. Holleman. More recently, by request of the Prof. L.J.W. Holleman Trust, I have become involved in a multidisciplinary, international collaborative research program to investigate this work further; my role being to analyse and communicate the experimental findings of this and other related research; to find/develop scientific paradigms that could bridge the difficulties encountered by other researchers in this field - in enabling a common understanding of apparently contradictory views.