Sir, - The lecture by Professor Lewis Wolpert on May 19th was a profound disappointment. An open question - "Is science dangerous?" - was answered in an shamelessly partisan way.Instead of philosophy or reasoned (or even balanced) argument we were given an advocate of the current projects of science on a "soft-sell" mission. Prof Wolpert distinguished between science (the "pure", "valueless" search for knowledge) and technology (the implementation of knowledge), and argued for the autonomy and safety of the former. A child, asked to choose between virtue and knowledge, will always choose knowledge. I doubt we will ever overcome our incessant curiosity. The argument set for the professor about the pursuit of knowledge would not attract sufficient public interest if this narrow point was all that was at stake.We might well ask if the projects set for science are a rational and responsible use of limited financial and intellectual resources (often provided by governments) to resolve the myriad of problems we have created for ourselves on this small planet. If the answer is no, I suggest that science is a distraction, and therefore dangerous. - Yours, etc., Colm Murray,Crampton Buildings,Dublin 2.