Citation
(1999), "The next one?", Work Study, Vol. 48 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.1999.07948caa.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
The next one?
The next one?
The recent earthquake in Columbia reminds us that our ability to predict such events is very limited. Millions of pounds of research funding has gone into meteorological research and, though we get better, we are a long way from being able to make confident predictions. Though obviously in cases such as earthquakes, hurricanes and so on, prediction would be very useful, it is good to be reminded of our own (human) limitations and fallibility, lest we become too arrogant. In fact the most success with earthquake prediction has been in China where in two recent cases, the town at risk has been evacuated before the earthquake took place. So it is possible (if not reliable) but the West seems to have inferior "technology". Again, it is good to be reminded that the old, established order (and old, established knowledge) sometimes breaks down.