The Relationship Between Science and the Military

The book’s primary thematic perspective is that the influence of science, and the work of scientists, affect the lives of service personnel when they are both on and off duty and in ways that the general public might not suspect. In almost every chapter, the book explores and defines how scientific knowledge, and research to expand that knowledge, improve the safety, health, and general well-being of those who sign up for military service – and, to some degree, civilians whom that service benefits. The sole exception to this is Chapter 10, in which the author focuses, for the only time in the book, on the deployment of science to shape a weapon, albeit one of a particular kind.

While there are several chapters that consider situations that are particular to the military environment (i.e. combat injuries, the dangers of working in submarines...