Grand Challenges For Science In The 21st Century

by Jan Wouter Vasbinder, Balazs Gulyas, Jonathan Y H Sim

Overview

This interesting book is a compilation of the lectures and discussions held during a four-day event — Grand Challenges for Science in the 21st Century — organized by Para Limes at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.The elite group of speakers included Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner who called on all scientists to adopt a truth-seeking approach and not be afraid of challenging assumptions. The other panellists were Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and past President of the Royal Society, the much-cited Terrence Sejnowski from the renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the well-known keynote speaker in economics and complexity sciences Brian Arthur, the former President of the European Research Council Helga Nowotny and the Director of the Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science Eors Szathmary.The lively sessions were moderated by the Danish writer Tor Norretranders. The panel tackled topics from evolution and the origin of the universe to modern technologies and artificial intelligence. The challenges presented during the event are bound to get the reader thinking about what may lie ahead in our future.Published in collaboration with Institute Para Limes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813276437
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/20/2018
Series:	Exploring Complexity , #7
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

List of Speakers ix

1 Introduction Jan Wouter Vasbinder Balázs Gulyás Jonathan Y. H. Sim 1

Part 1 3

2 The Management of Science and the Need for Greater Clarity Sydney Brenner 5

3 The Potential of Algorithms W. Brian Arthur 9

4 The Progress of Science and Artificial Intelligence from Efforts in Understanding the Brain Terrence J. Sejnowski 15

5 How Algorithms are Altering Our Understanding of Systems W. Brian Arthur 23

6 How a Deeper Understanding of the Brain Might Solve the Mind-Body Problem Terrence J. Sejnowski 27

7 The Smallest Insect is More Complex than a Star or Galaxy Martin J. Rees 31

8 The Past, Present, and Future of the Biosphere Eörs Szathmáry 37

9 The Public Engagement of Science and Society Helga Nowotny 41

Part II 49

10 Artificial or Augmented Intelligence? The Ethical and Societal Implications Eörs Szathmáry Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 51

11 Technology and Stability Eörs Szathmáry Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 69

12 Aging and Longevity, Jobs and Migration Eörs Szathmáry Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 81

13 Are We Alone in the Universe? Eörs Szathmáry Helga Nowotny Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 93

14 Loss of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Economic Growth Eörs Szathmáry Helga Nowotny Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 105

15 A Sustainable Population for the Planet? Eörs Szathmáry Helga Nowotny Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur 117

16 Ethics and The Relevance of Science in the Public Sphere Eörs Szathmáry Martin J. Rees Terrence J. Sejnowski Tor Nørretranders W. Brian Arthur