Can love and science co-exist in this debate?

Both Toni Harman and Philip Steer have written thoughtful pieces on the issue of the microbiome. Toni has written passionately about getting the information into the hands of parents and Philip has written cautiously about the need for good scientific evidence before we do this. I found myself agreeing with both points of view. As scientists, we do indeed need to be cautious and as consumers, we should be passionate as there is no one in the world more important to us than our children. The caution and the passion can work well together if we see the potential synergy. Consumers often remind scientists of why they do what they do and that science is not just about test tubes and numbers, but about real people. Scientists remind consumers of the need for rigor and a systematic approach. Argentinean obstetrician and researcher, Jose Belizan, summed this up perfectly for me recently (October 2014) when speaking at the 'International Normal Labour and Birth Conference' in Brazil. He said, 'What we need is love and science'. One (love or science) is not truly safe without the other to keep it honest and real. The position I will take in this debate is one of 'love and science'; but first we must understand that all science is embedded in the paradigm of the time.