Groups directory

Delta Scan

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:05:39 -0800

IIASA Workshop, 2 July 2008

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:52:32 -0700

Agenda for the Future of Science Workshop

9:00-10:00 Introduction

In the introduction, we'll provide a brief overview of the X2 project and X2 community, followed by a preview of the day's agenda. We'll then ask people to tell us briefly who they are and what they work on, and to give us an important headline from their field in 2018.

10:00-11:30 Futures of Science: Ideas, Innovations, and Challenges

In this section we'll build a roadmap of the future of scientific ideas, and begin to explore their practical or policy implications. To get at this, we'll ask one big question: What could be the most important innovation in your field between now and 2018, and how might it be applied? Whose problem does it solve, whose policy might it affect, what are the implications?

11:30-11:45 Break

11:45 – 12:30 Geography of Science

In this last exercise, we'll work with the group to nail down where the trends discussed in the previous session will play out. What places-- geographical locations, or social/institutional locations-- will provide the best support for this research?

12:30-1:15 Lunch

1:15-2:15 Signals and hypothesis writing

We'll introduce participants to the X2 platform, then do a quick-fire exercise in which they contribute "weak signals" and hypotheses for use in the afternoon sessions.

2:15-2:30 Break

2:30-4:00 Breakout groups

Participants will work in small groups to flesh out the most interesting signals into short scenarios. The main objective will be to develop a research programs dealing with the subjects covered in the signals. The scenarios will describe a research program; its rationale and importance; the kinds of scientists would be needed to make it work; and the places where it could succeed.

4:15-4:30 Conclusion

Singapore workshop, July 24, 2008

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:00:13 -0700

Workshop held at the National University of Singapore, co-organized by IFTF, the U. S. Office of Naval Research, and NUS.

UiTM Workshop, 17 April 2008

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:14:03 -0700

This is the group page for participants in the 17 April 2008 workshop at UiTM.

You can view of list of participants here.

Earth Systems & Environmental Science

Matt Daniels — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:56:42 -0700

Green Technology, Sustainability & Climate Change

Max Marmer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:33:47 -0700

Computer & Information Science

Jerry Sheehan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:32:06 -0700

Engineering & Design

Matt Daniels — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:55:26 -0700

Robotics

Max Marmer — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:57:39 -0700

Amateur, DIY, and citizen science

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:30:41 -0700

One of the most important trends in science in the last 150 years has been the professionalization of scientific research, and the decline of the amateur as a serious force in science.

Today, that pattern is starting to reverse. Many Ph.D.s never become academics, but also do not abandon science when they go into other industries. The growth science on the Web, and the Web itself, make it easier for amateur scientists to connect with one another, pool their labor, and thus become a more powerful force in scientific research. A few scientists, particularly in the developing world, are recruiting students, indigenous peoples, farmers, and other groups traditionally marginal or invisible to science, and turning them into fieldworkers, data-gatherers, and experimenters.

Will the return of the amateur have a significant effect on the sciences? In which fields will it matter? How will relations between amateur and professional scientists be structured? These are some of the questions we hope to answer.

Update, 14 May 2008: I'm interviewed on Darlene Cavalier's Science Cheerleader blog.

Energy

Matt Daniels — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:54:09 -0700

Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology

Attila Csordas — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:32:45 -0700

Tracking short and long term, obvious and hidden future trends in biology, biotechnology, medicine, regenerative medicine.

Future of neuroscience

Katy Armstrong — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:33:16 -0700

The human brain contains billions of neurons communicating across a dense web of synaptic connections and ultimately giving rise to the integrated perceptions and coordinated behaviors that comprise conscious experience. Today scientists wishing to study neural systems--from nematodes to bankers--have (relatively) solid financial support and a wide array of technological tools at their disposal. Still, the science of studying large interconnected dynamic systems is new, posing significant challenges for researchers seeking a deep understanding of neural function. This group's mission is to address promising research findings and directions, to speculate on the potential impact of neurobiological research, and most broadly to discuss what the future of neuroscience may hold.

A list of subscribers to this group can be found here.

Editorial guidelines are available if you have questions about how to create signals and forecasts. Like everything else on this site, they're still evolving, so please send your comments or questions.

If you have questions about this process, post them here.

Structure, Tools, and Platforms of Science

Cesar Castro — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:35:20 -0700

Future of chemistry

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:01:19 -0700

This group is organized around the future of chemistry.

The deadline for completing your signals is Friday, May 2. A list of current participants can be found here.

There's a Signals Forum, which is a discussion thread with information about what signals are, how to add them, etc. In particular, you may find the editorial guidelines to be helpful. Like everything else on this site, they're still evolving, so please send your comments or questions.

If you have questions about this process, post them here.

Materials, Chemistry, & Nanoscience

Melodie McBride — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:34:07 -0700

Physics & Space Science

Matt Daniels — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:35:05 -0800

M81. Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech
PHYSICS & SPACE SCIENCE GROUP

Welcome! Our mission is to figure out the future of the universe at all scales.... should be pretty easy.

A list of group members/subscribers can be found here.

Ethics in Science

Janie Busby Grant — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:32:22 -0700

This group focuses on the types of ethical issues likely to confront scientists in the future. Key topics include ethics surrounding:
- use of research subjects (human, animal, other)
- reporting of research findings to peers and the general public (and the role of the media)
- possible use of research by others for harm (the 'dual-use dilemma')
- restrictions and influence of the academic context and community
- role of private companies in research generation
- role of governments and organisations in monitoring research
- scientific integrity

Africa: Science & Technology

Jody Ranck — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:37:11 -0700

China: Science & Technology

Philip Cho — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:57:12 -0700

China’s rise as an economic power has had profound global impacts ranging from the environment and natural resources to finance and politics. How will the nation now solidify power by building on its commercial success to become a world leader in science and technology? What will this mean for the rest of the world, especially as the United States, European Union, and China vie for influence over developing regions of Africa, South America, and Central Asia? This group aims at better understanding the changes within China as well as draw links to developments in the rest of the world.

East and Southeast Asia: Science and Technology

Hyungsub Choi — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:26:14 -0700

This group will discuss the future of science and technology in East and Southeast Asia (excluding China, which will be treated in a separate group).

We will be open to a broad array of topics, not only the production and dissemination, but also the use and social 'impact' of new knowledge.

Having said that, I am particularly interested in the growth of high-tech industries in the West Pacific Rim region.

These countries constitute a unique array of experiences: a full-blown advanced industrial country (Japan); a country that is reaching the home-stretch stage to the cutting-edge (Korea); and countries that used to house assembly plants currently attempting to excel in niche areas (Singapore).

Will Singapore's government-backed biotech industry lead to fruition? What will be Samsung Electronics' fate in the age of globalized semiconductor industry, as could be seen in the ascent of Taiwanese and Chinese fabs? What will be Japan's next generation motor to economic growth? Will the multinational companies that locate their R&D labs in this area get their return on investment, and what will this mean to their hosts?

India & South Asia: Science & Technology

Mani Pande — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:33 -0700

Latin America: Science & Technology

Rachel Maguire — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:36:23 -0700

Middle East: Science and Technology

Max Marmer — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:49:23 -0700

Russia & Eastern Europe: Science & Technology

Marina Gorbis — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:10 -0700

Science and Technology Places

Anthony Townsend — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:35:26 -0700

To help understand the role of place in fostering scientific and technological progress and innovation. We are interested in how architecture, urban design and planning, workspace design, telepresence, context-aware computing, the geoweb, real estate devleopment and other areas influencing the places people do science, will evolve and set the context for future advances.

Science in the United States

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:34:19 -0700

Signals, hpotheses and forecasts related to the future of American science.

Psychology

Janie Busby Grant — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:20:02 -0700

This group is designed for the discussion of new and exciting themes developing in the psychological sciences. The scope is broad - if you think it might fit, we'd be interested in hearing about it.

To post a signal click 'create signal'. The post can be brief or long, and can involve your own comments or just information you've dug up from the web or another source. Links are a great help so that the rest of us can follow the signal in detail if we want to. Remember to check the 'Psychology' check box so your post will become available to everyone else in the group.