Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WSW: Flint's Lesson About Science And Ethics

Courtesy of Sid Roy

The Flint water crisis got the attention of researchers in Blacksburg, Virginia in late of April of last year. Resident Lee-Anne Walters contacted a Virginia Tech Professor because she suspected her family was getting sick from drinking the water. 

Civil Engineering Professor Marc Edwards and a team that included graduate student Sid Roy began looking into Flint’s water, they helped bring attention to the lead contamination crisis in the city. Sid Roy, communication director for Virginia Tech's Flint Water Study will speak at Western Michigan University on Tuesday at an event sponsored by Western’s Lee Honors College.

Roy says the study grew out of the research showing elevated levels of lead in the drinking water, and the lack of action by government officials. Roy says the residents of Flint trust the Virginia Tech researchers more now than they trust the government. He says officials at the local, state and federal level have lost the trust of Flint residents. 

sidroy020216-web.mp3
Interview with Sid Roy - web version

Now is the time to give Flint residents hope, according to Roy. He says in the short term that means clean drinking water. In the long-term, Roy says investments should be made in education, nutrition and other services for families because children could face developmental issues because of lead poisoning.

Beyond Flint, Roy says safe drinking water can’t be taken for granted. He says aging water infrastructure needs to be updated. Roy says that includes millions of lead pipes in the country. He says those should be replaced.

The title of Roy’s address at Western Michigan University is Science as a Force for Public Good. He says scientists failed at their jobs for over a year, and harmed the health of Flint’s citizens. He says science should focus on the public good. Roy says because future scientists will face more moral questions, ethics should be a major part of science education.

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
Related Content