Grand Challenges for Science in the 21st Century

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.

Contents:

• Introduction (Jan Wouter Vasbinder, Balázs Gulyás & Jonathan Y H Sim)

• Part I:

  • The Management of Science and the Need for Greater Clarity (Sydney Brenner)
  • The Potential of Algorithms (W Brian Arthur)
  • The Progress of Science and Artificial Intelligence from Efforts in Understanding the Brain (Terrence J Sejnowski)
  • How Algorithms are Altering Our Understanding of Systems (W Brian Arthur)
  • How a Deeper Understanding of the Brain Might Solve the Mind-Body Problem (Terrence J Sejnowski)
  • The Smallest Insect is More Complex than a Star or Galaxy (Martin J Rees)
  • The Past, Present, and Future of the Biosphere (Eörs Szathmáry)
  • The Public Engagement of Science and Society (Helga Nowotny)

• Part II:

  • Artificial or Augmented Intelligence? The Ethical and Societal Implications (Eörs Szathmáry, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • Technology and Stability (Eörs Szathmáry, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • Aging and Longevity, Jobs and Migration (Eörs Szathmáry, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • Are We Alone in the Universe? (Eörs Szathmáry, Helga Nowotny, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • Loss of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Economic Growth (Eörs Szathmáry, Helga Nowotny, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • A Sustainable Population for the Planet? (Eörs Szathmáry, Helga Nowotny, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)
  • Ethics and The Relevance of Science in the Public Sphere (Eörs Szathmáry, Martin J Rees, Terrence J Sejnowski, Tor Nørretranders & W Brian Arthur)

Readership: Researchers and policymakers involved in issues of complexity in human society.