keynote address: pasi 2013 in methods for data-driven discovery

Science and Technology, the 21st Century

and the Americas: Towards Regional

Multidisciplinary Envisioning

Santiago Núñez Corrales

Director of Digital Technologies

Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications

Steering Committee Member

Advanced Research and Technology Collaborative for the Americas

Board Member,

Foundation Pro Renewable Energy

Themostexcitingbreakthroughs of the 21st

centurywillnotoccurbecause of technologybutbecause of

anexpanding concept of whatitmeansto be human.

John Naisbitt

TheFour Great Frontiers of Science

How are we here? What is life?

How does the mind work?How can we grow together?


How are we here?

Cosmology

Astronomy

Quantum Physics

Mathematics

Computing

Grand open questions:

• Unification of gravity with the Standard

Model of Physics

• A precise, fundamental concept of time,

space and energy

• A model of the universe at sub-Planck

scales

• A model for understanding the particular

tuning of fundamental constants in the

universe


What is life?

Biology

Chemistry

Nanoscience

Mathematics

Computing


• Identification of the minimal functions of a

living system

• Identification of the minimal components of

a living system

• A complete model of a minimal

environment capable of sustaining life

• A complete model of a minimal

environment capable of producing live

entities from non-living materials


How does the mind work?


• Understand how neurons and their firing

patterns translate into simple (and complex)

thinking

• Understand awareness and consciousness in

an integrated view

• To determine fully the role of emotions and

qualia

• To develop a systemic model capable of

predicting behaviour

Biology

Chemistry

Neuroscience

Medicine

Mathematics

Computing


How can we grow together?


• Identify the core elements of a balanced

society between development and self-

transcendence

• Determine the role of human interactions

leading to global behaviour

• Develop a model of social behaviour

integrating all possible aspects of life

• Make power structures accountable to the

public

Biology

Social Science

Humanities

Arts

History

Mathematics

Computing

… and theirdilemmas


How does the mind work?How can we live together?

Is life inevitable?

Is death avoidable?

How does society

impacts us?

How to build a better

society from each of

us?

Do

we

mat

ter?

Do

we ex

ist?

Rig

ht?

Is intellig

ence n

ecessary?

Nature is parsimonious

Nature is connected

Nature is organic

Nature is diverse

Nature is complex(for us)



How does the mind work?How can we grow together?

General Systems

Theory

Stochastic Systems

Network Theory

Supercomputing

programming

language design

More efficient

supercomputers

A new grammar for

mathematics

The Challenges

Mathematics is required to understand nature, and it

requires a change in its language.

Better models and copious data are necessary to

analyse, predict and model nature.

Science-driven policies need to be put in place to

improve our lives in connection with nature.

Science needs to become accessible to the general

public by means of visualization and simulations.

From the exploration of the frontiers of knowledge,

grand open questions arise.

From solving the questions, fundamental philosophical

dilemmas arise.

Advancing the status of humanity often depends on

actively taking a stance on such dilemmas.

6.52. We feel that even if all possible scientific questions

be answered, the problems of life have still not been

touched at all. Of course there is then no question left,

and just this is the answer.

Ludwig Wittgenstein. TractatusLogico-Philosophicus.

TheValues of theAmericas

Resources are finite Biodiversity must be protected

Human talent is invaluableTrue collaboration is essential

Public policy makers need to be aware of the great scientific

challenges, given the ethical questions they continue to pose.

Any institution dealing with STI systems has to be fluent not

only in the language of science, but also needs from the

humanities and the arts for communicating and attracting new

talent.

The Americas are in a privileged position to tackle many of the

grand open questions with fresh eyes and new ideas, taking

advantage from available hemispheric resources.

A proper envisioning for STI requires regional collaboration in a

global world.

Science Directorate

National database of

research scientists

Science Prospection and

International Cooperation

National Roadmaps for Converging

Sciences

Science and Economic

Development

Nature composes some of her loveliest

poems for the microscope and the

telescope.

Theodore Roszak, Where the Wasteland

Thank [email protected]