converging sciences trento,16-17 december 2004 sponsors of the conference

Converging Sciences Trento,16-17 December 2004

Sponsors of the conference

New Kinds of science

ComplexSystems

ModelsAbstraction

Data Hypothesis

ValidationVerificationPrediction

Lack of dataLack of knowledge

New formalismsNew science

ETHICSSOCIAL INTEGRATION

Inter/Multidisciplinar

Converging SciencesConverging SciencesNew research models for convergence: basic versus applied New research models for convergence: basic versus applied

researchresearch

The convergence of Information and Communication Technologies The convergence of Information and Communication Technologies and life sciences is fruitful for the development of new knowledge-and life sciences is fruitful for the development of new knowledge-based industry sectors: nanoelectronics, microsystems, embedded based industry sectors: nanoelectronics, microsystems, embedded ICT. ICT.

It is based on an integrated approach that influences positively It is based on an integrated approach that influences positively development of practical and industrial applications such as development of practical and industrial applications such as molecular design, biomedical strategies, drug design etc.molecular design, biomedical strategies, drug design etc.

Living technologies and learning programs can help to circumvent Living technologies and learning programs can help to circumvent the barriers in the design of complex technologies.the barriers in the design of complex technologies.

Development in one of the converging sciences gives rise to Development in one of the converging sciences gives rise to advancements in all the othersadvancements in all the others

The increasing methodological and tecnical interconnection among The increasing methodological and tecnical interconnection among these sciences makes the basic research and the technology transfer these sciences makes the basic research and the technology transfer almost indistinguishable. The new scenario calls for new ontologies almost indistinguishable. The new scenario calls for new ontologies and practices in research that mainly focus on the results of a project and practices in research that mainly focus on the results of a project that is applicative by definition of the research field that is applicative by definition of the research field

Converging SciencesConverging SciencesNew research models for convergence: basic versus applied New research models for convergence: basic versus applied

researchresearch

ConsequencesConsequencesInstitutional level : the impact of universities and public research Institutional level : the impact of universities and public research centers into industrial activity will dramatically increase only if centers into industrial activity will dramatically increase only if Institutional management will be modified and improved (strategy Institutional management will be modified and improved (strategy development in networks, human resources management and development in networks, human resources management and mobility)mobility)Educational level: The EU instruments (framework programmes, Educational level: The EU instruments (framework programmes, mobility programmes) should be geared towards improving the mobility programmes) should be geared towards improving the opportunities for interdisciplinary research . Phd programs at EU level opportunities for interdisciplinary research . Phd programs at EU level need a dramatic improvementneed a dramatic improvementWelfare: the new reasearch areas can provide more rapid response Welfare: the new reasearch areas can provide more rapid response in order to enhance the quality of life, health, environment, food. in order to enhance the quality of life, health, environment, food. Policy :The “european paradox” (Busquin) explained; while the Policy :The “european paradox” (Busquin) explained; while the number of papers in peer-reviewed journals originating from European number of papers in peer-reviewed journals originating from European laboratories is equivalent to the American production, European laboratories is equivalent to the American production, European university-based research has had a more limited impact in enhancing university-based research has had a more limited impact in enhancing competitiveness of Europe;this is explained by the gap between competitiveness of Europe;this is explained by the gap between American and EU development into converging sciences American and EU development into converging sciences

Training Europe’s Training Europe’s Scientists of TomorrowScientists of Tomorrow

Too few young people enter science curriculaToo few young people enter science curriculaInvestigate what makes other fields attractive to students and identify Investigate what makes other fields attractive to students and identify

elements that are attractiveelements that are attractive( what image does psychology project, what is it that makes the ( what image does psychology project, what is it that makes the

students want to take such subjects rather than science )students want to take such subjects rather than science )

Integrate elements that make a field attractive to young people in the Integrate elements that make a field attractive to young people in the (converging) sciences culture (converging) sciences culture

The ‘soft sciences’ need to help ‘harder’ sciences here.The ‘soft sciences’ need to help ‘harder’ sciences here.

Project the ‘spirit of the new frontier’ – put dreams and prospects into Project the ‘spirit of the new frontier’ – put dreams and prospects into orbitorbit

Avoid the ‘nerd’ syndrome – (converge with extreme sports sciences)Avoid the ‘nerd’ syndrome – (converge with extreme sports sciences)

Make it easy for the students to fail – create a ‘golden bridge’ out if it is Make it easy for the students to fail – create a ‘golden bridge’ out if it is too hard for them, so they can be happy and productivetoo hard for them, so they can be happy and productive

Training Europe’s Scientists of Training Europe’s Scientists of TomorrowTomorrow

Competition from the web in educationCompetition from the web in educationGive the students challenging projects Give the students challenging projects

Be a project advisor, rather than deliver lecturesBe a project advisor, rather than deliver lectures

As much as possible, work with them one on one or in project groupsAs much as possible, work with them one on one or in project groups

Train for convergenceTrain for convergenceLet people study one, preferably two subjects in depthLet people study one, preferably two subjects in depth

Allow time for that, which means giving up short time productivity for longer, deeper, Allow time for that, which means giving up short time productivity for longer, deeper, permanent education without financially negative consequencespermanent education without financially negative consequences

Bring people with various backgrounds together in one education institute / group ,Bring people with various backgrounds together in one education institute / group ,Create physical proximity and direct interactionCreate physical proximity and direct interaction

Economic & Social importance of Economic & Social importance of converging sciencesconverging sciences

Social potential: ‘significant’ (e.g., treatment of disease…Social potential: ‘significant’ (e.g., treatment of disease…what else?)what else?)

Economic importance: Europe’s future may depend upon Economic importance: Europe’s future may depend upon it in the emerging ‘science-based innovation’ erait in the emerging ‘science-based innovation’ era

Europe either is or will be in a race to ‘win’ but on current Europe either is or will be in a race to ‘win’ but on current course does not look in a good position to do socourse does not look in a good position to do so

European funding regime (FPs) needs to be overhauled in European funding regime (FPs) needs to be overhauled in order to realise benefitsorder to realise benefits

European education / training system/environment from European education / training system/environment from top to bottom needs to be urgently improved to realise top to bottom needs to be urgently improved to realise social and economic benefitssocial and economic benefits

Luca CardelliLuca Cardelli

Microsoft ResearchMicrosoft ResearchCambridge UKCambridge UK

2004-12-172004-12-17

www.luca.demon.co.ukwww.luca.demon.co.uk

Converging SciencesFinal Session

Systems BiologySystems Biology ChallengesChallenges

– Data acquisitionData acquisition Under biological conditions.Under biological conditions.

– Data interpretation Data interpretation Provenance, algorithms, what’s hidden in the data?Provenance, algorithms, what’s hidden in the data?

– Modeling Modeling Multi-scale, scalable, compasable. Multi-scale, scalable, compasable. Only as good as the data. (But hopefully predictive.)Only as good as the data. (But hopefully predictive.) What are the right abstractions / mathematical models?What are the right abstractions / mathematical models?

ConvergenceConvergence– Sharing the insights of each scienceSharing the insights of each science

Importance of IT infrastructure and techniques.Importance of IT infrastructure and techniques. Establishing collaborative centers (non-virtual).Establishing collaborative centers (non-virtual).

– Defining interfaces between the sciencesDefining interfaces between the sciences So data can be calibrated and stored uniformlySo data can be calibrated and stored uniformly Where gaps can be noticed.Where gaps can be noticed.

Session 6Session 6 BiodiversityBiodiversity

Why should we care? “Save the Planet”?Why should we care? “Save the Planet”?– Impact on humans (eg climate change, deforestation)Impact on humans (eg climate change, deforestation)– Loss of benefits (eg lose new medicines)Loss of benefits (eg lose new medicines)– Beware of cost-benefit analysis - small risk/high costBeware of cost-benefit analysis - small risk/high cost

How should we act?How should we act?– Understand complex dynamic interacting systemsUnderstand complex dynamic interacting systems– Use existing data -> Legacy systems/non-digital informationUse existing data -> Legacy systems/non-digital information– Collect new data -> sensors/experiments/field studies -> Data Collect new data -> sensors/experiments/field studies -> Data

delugedeluge– Generate knowledge from data -> federation, modelling, Generate knowledge from data -> federation, modelling,

massive computing, global organisationsmassive computing, global organisations What do we need?What do we need?

– Interfaces to federate data, standards for new dataInterfaces to federate data, standards for new data– Integration into e-biodiversity (up to ecosystem level)Integration into e-biodiversity (up to ecosystem level)– Simple usable tools for data handling, distributed computing, Simple usable tools for data handling, distributed computing,

VO managementVO management

Only one habitable planet so far

Academics

Computer scientists

IT Industry

converging sciences trento,16-17 december 2004 sponsors of the conference

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