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Some scientists believe that if extraterrestrials do exist, their level of civilization can be roughly inferred based on the scale of energy they use.
The origins of modern human civilization can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, which was made possible by the development and practical use of the steam engine. This breakthrough liberated humanity from the constraints of animal and human power, significantly enhancing creativity and productivity, and profoundly changed the course of human civilization. It marked the beginning of a series of breakthroughs in fields such as biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, communications, and computer science. The scientific achievements of figures like Michael Faraday and Nikola Tesla ushered humanity into the era of electrification. With the advent of electricity, various remarkable and crucial devices, instruments, and tools began to emerge. In the early 1950s, the integrated circuit was even invented, and following its development, humanity continuously improved and used computers, automatic controls, and more recently, artificial intelligence (AI), greatly extending human intellectual capacity and opening new and dazzling chapters of human civilization that are both awe-inspiring and, at times, difficult to imagine.
Regardless of advancements in energy or civilization, the fundamental basis is science. The coat of arms of the Royal Society, established in the mid-16th century, carries the motto 'Nullius in Verba' (translated as 'On the words of no one'), which means one should not follow authority or superstition but only believe in what can be seen through experiments. This embodies the spirit of science.
Today, humanity has a deeper understanding, broader perspective, and more options for energy use. However, all these developments must be grounded in science. The overuse of fossil fuels has already led to concerning environmental degradation. Around the world, there is active research into green, sustainable energy sources such as geothermal, ocean, biomass, solar, and wind energy. Some countries are also developing cleaner, more efficient fossil fuel technologies and safer nuclear fission power plants. Notably, there have been promising advances in low-temperature nuclear fusion, Z-pinch nuclear fusion, laser inertial nuclear fusion, and magnetic confinement nuclear fusion in recent years. The world's largest magnetic confinement nuclear fusion research project, ITER, is based in southern France and involves cooperation from thirty-five countries, including the EU, Russia, China, India, and Japan. Preliminary results closer to commercial operation are expected by 2035.
The mission of the Asia-Pacific Energy & Science Education Association is to provide useful, comprehensive, and accurate energy science knowledge to schools, the public, and energy decision-makers based on the spirit of science. This is achieved through extensive collaboration with science education institutions across the Asia-Pacific region, using accessible methods such as teacher workshops, student competitions or camps, and seminars, to contribute to the development of human civilization and the protection of the natural environment.