Logic and Landscape of Knowledge SystemImplications for Education & Research

Jinghai Lilijh@nsfc.gov.cn

National Natural Science Foundation of China

Engineering a Better World – the Next 100 Years, IVA, June 24-28, 2019, Sweden

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1. BackgroundParadigm Shift of Scientific Research

2. Current ChallengesMissing Links in Knowledge System

3. Common Principle at MesoscalesCompromise in Competition

4. Actions to be TakenTransdisciplinarity → Reconstructing

EducationResearch

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1. BackgroundParadigm Shift of Scientific Research

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4

Actions?

New Opportunities: Responses

Paradigm Shift

1.1 Scientific research paradigm1.2 Transdisciplinarity1.3 Interplay between R&D1.4 Global challenges

Background

EducationResearch

5Less and less More and more

Changes in Content, Method and Domain

Content Static average Dynamic structureLocal phenomena System behavior

Traditional paradigm

Newparadigm

Chance

Domain Traditional theory Complexity scienceDetailed analysis Scale correlationFragmentation Common principles

Knowledge systemKnowledge blocks

1.1 Paradigm Shift: Not only Data-Intensive

MethodQualitative analysis Quantitative predictionDisciplinary TransdisciplinaryData processing Artificial intelligenceNumerical simulation Virtual reality

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Transdisciplinarity becomes an importantpath to breakthrough.

TimeNumber of trans-

disciplinary awardsRatio

1901-1920 11 19.3%

1921-1940 10 18.5%

1941-1960 11 20.4%

1961-1980 18 30%

1981-2000 12 20%

2001-2018 24 44.4%

Nobel Prize & Transdisciplinarity

The 66.7% Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001-2018 was the resultof transdisciplinary research

All the three Nobel Prizes in 2018 were transdisciplinary studies

1.2 Transdisciplinarity

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1.3 Interplay Between

NonlinearLinear

Basic research

Applied research

Experimental development

Basic research

Applied research

Experimental development

Research & DevelopmentScience & Society

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Bottom-up & Top-down Strategy !

Open & Global Science

Global Challenges & Opportunities

Digital Resolution

1.4 Open, Global, Digital, ……

Joint Action!

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Re-organizing R&D

Rebuilding innovation systemsExpecting rewards

Governments

Appealing investmentCommunities:

Industries:

Current Discussions

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Logic and Landscape of Knowledge

What are Even More Important?

TransdisciplinarityEducation & Research

Re-mappingDisciplines

Disciplinary Blocks Knowledge SystemMissing

Links

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What to Do?

Relationships between different disciplines?

Layout of education and research based on these relationships?

Missing links?

Are there any common principles?

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2. Current ChallengesMissing Links in Knowledge System

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Material

Boundary scales

Reactor Factory

MesoscaleMesoscale Mesoscale

Material and interfacial structures

Heterogeneous structures

Integration of units

Missing Links in Knowledge

Multi-level

Multi-scale

Challenging

Relatively mature

Molecule/Atom Assembly Particle Aggregate Unit operation Integrating unit Environment

Multilevel, Multiscale and Mesoscale Complexity

From MoleculeDirect Scale-up → Virtual Process Engineering

To MarketLi J., Chem. Eng. J., 2015, 278: 541-555

For Example: Chemical Science

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?Micro

Meso?

Material

Ca5(OH)(PO4)3

Hydroxyapatite

Reactor

Flow, mass transfer and reaction around a particle

Micro

Meso?Macro

A Little Bit Details of Complexity at MesoscalesMacro

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Even for Social Science

MesoscaleCollective behavior

ElementIndividual

SystemSociety

16Mesoscale complexity!

Traditional Averaging ApproachesDistorting Real Mechanisms

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Not Only for Chemical Science

Star Galaxy Supercluster Observable universe

Cluster orelectronic structure

Atomic nucleus

Elementary particle

PlanetAtom Planetary system

Mineral Rock associatio

nGeologic unit GeotectureRock Galaxy

clusterRock structure

Nuclear physics Geonomy Astronomy Uranology Cosmography

Quantum,Chemistry/Physics,

Materials Petrology Geology

Boundary scales

Mesoscales

Atom/Molecule Assembly Particle Aggregate Unit operation

Integrating unit

Environment Amino acid

Secondary structure

Protein Macro-biomolecule

complexCell Tissue Organ Functional

systemLife body

Chemical engineering

Chemistry Process system

engineering

Molecular biology

Cell biology Histology Systems biology

Mesoscales

Boundary scales Boundary scales

Mesoscales

Physical world

Chemical science Life scienceMul

tilev

el

Mul

tisca

le a

t eac

h le

vel

Complexity at mesoscale of

each level

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Different Sciences Share Mesoscale Complexity

Natural Social

Presentation at the ICSU-ISSC joint GA, Olso, Norway, Oct. 2016

Missing links in traditional theoriesMulti-level, each multi-scaled, with level-specific complexity

Mesoscience

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3. Common Principle at MesoscalesCompromise in Competition

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s.t. Fi (X)=0, i = 1, 2, …, m

min

E1 (X)

Ek (X)

E2 (X)...

X = {x1, x2, ……, xn }

Li J., & Kwauk M., Chem. Eng. Sci., 2003, 58: 521-535Li J., et al., Chem. Eng. Sci., 2004, 59: 1687-1700

EMMS Principle MesoscienceMathematical

Multi-objective Variational

PhysicalCompromise in Competition Between

Dominant Mechanisms

A-dominated (A = Extremum 1) B-dominated (B = Extremum 2)A-B compromising

Increasing dominance of mechanism B over mechanism A

AB(Extremalizing )

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From Case Studies to Common Principle

Compromise in Competition

E1(X)min

s.t. Fi(X)=0, i=1, 2, …, m

X = { x1, x2, ……, xn }

…

Ek(X)

compromise in competition

Physics:

Mathematics:multi-objective

variational

Granular flow

Gas-solid

Turbulent flow

Emulsion

Foam drainage

Gas-liquid

Micro-fluidics

Systems

Stability Condition

𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝑨𝑨𝑩𝑩Catalysis

Material

Micro reactor

Gas-liquid-solid

Protein

2012

2017

Ionic liquid

Membrane

Interfacial

Mesoscience

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Li J., et al., arXiv:1302.5861, 2013Li J., et al., From Multiscale Modeling to Mesoscience, Springer, 2013Ge W., et al, Chem. Eng. Sci., 2011, 66(19): 4426-4458Huang W., Li J. & Edwards P. P., Natl. Sci. Rev., 2018, 5: 321-326

Universality?

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Mesoscience: Bridging the Missing Links in the Logic and Landscape of Knowledge System

Li J., Engineering, 2016, 2: 276-285

Mesoscience

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4. Actions to be TakenTransdisciplinarity → Education & Research

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Based on the Logic and Landscape of Knowledge SystemTransdisciplinary

SystematicDisciplinaryFragmented

Existing Education System

Presentation at the ICSU-ISSC joint GA, Olso, Norway, Oct. 2016

Transdisciplinarity

New System

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NSFC: Application code >3000

MOEFirst-level: 13Second-level: 111Third-level: 375

How to organize transdisciplinarity?

National standard of

discipline classification

First-level: 62Second-level: 676Third-level: 2382

National standard of discipline classification (2009); The National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2019

UNESCO:

List of disciplines

8530 defined disciplines

Existing Systems:

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Convergence of Knowledge and Application

Knowledge Domains → Education System

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Planning Educational or Scientific Complex

Efficient + CompetitiveLi J., Engineering, 2016 (2), 276-285

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New scientific research paradigm is gradually emerging

Complete understanding of the logic and landscape ofknowledge system is crucial, and much more important thanthe discussion on investment and rewards

This calls for joint efforts from governments, scientificcommunities, industries, universities and also internationalorganizations

Breaking disciplinary boundaries and reconstructing educationsystem are mostly important!

Summary & Prospect

Thank You

for Attention !