Suchergebnisse

With input from academic, industry, government and NGO experts around the world, this book documents a decade of progress in converging knowledge and technology, including converging platforms, methods of convergence, societal implications and governance.

Convergence of knowledge and technology for the benefit of society (CKTS) is the core opportunity for progress in the 21st century, based on five principles: (1) the interdependence of all components of nature and society, (2) enhancement of creativity and innovation through evolutionary processes of convergence that combine existing principles, and divergence that generates new ones, (3) decision analysis for research and development based on system-logic deduction, (4) higher-level cross-domain languages to generate new solutions and support transfer of new knowledge, and (5) vision-inspired basic research embodied in grand challenges. Solutions are outlined for key societal challenges, including creating new industries and jobs, improving lifelong wellness and human potential, achieving personalized and integrated healthcare and education, and securing a sustainable quality of life for all. This report provides a ten-year NBIC2 vision within a longer-term framework for converging technology and human progress that began with a previous study on NBIC fields: nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science (Roco and Bainbridge, 2003).

This article has been written by International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) in collaboration with the Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the UN Programme on Space Applications (SGAC). This follows on from our paper 'Militarization of space: a youth perspective' presented at the 52nd Pugwash Conference in La Jolla, 2002, which gave a summary of the reasons against space weapons. In that paper we included recommendations for ways forward, both for the international community at large, and Pugwash in particular. The current article aims to address one of our recommendations in that paper to 'encourage high-level debate' on this issue. To do this, we have been working together with a US Air Force General to develop a critical analysis of both the pros and cons of space weapons, for a nation considering deployment. By developing a balanced debate, we hope to set a framework for the discussion in which all sides can take part.

"In Practicing Sustainability, chefs, poets, music directors, evangelical pastors, skyscraper architects, artists, filmmakers, as well as scientific leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, business executives, policy makers, and the contrarians, shed light on our understanding of sustainability and the role that each of us can play. Each contributor addresses what sustainability means, what is most appealing about the concept, and what they would like to change to improve the perception and practice of sustainability. What emerges from their essays is a wide spectrum of views that confirm an important insight: Sustainability is pursued in different ways not only due to different interpretations, but also because of varying incentives, trade-offs, and altruistic motives."--P. [4] of cover