Scientific Research - Scientific Research - Discovery and InventionDiscovery and Invention

A cross road between Science and EngineeringA cross road between Science and Engineering

byby

King L. ChowKing L. ChowHong Kong University of Science & TechnologyHong Kong University of Science & Technology

Scientific investigationScientific investigation

Observation(I notice)

Questions?(I wonder)

Hypothesis(proposed explanation)

IF….

Design and conductexperiments

AND…

Compare

Reflection,Generate new questions,

more observation

THEN…

B. Predicted outcomesB. Predicted outcomes

A.A. Actual outcomesActual outcomes(data)(data)

A = BA ≠ BA ≈ B

Key quality of a scientific investigationKey quality of a scientific investigation

• Validity of Presupposition ( 預設 ) and Premises (前题 )

• Being Observant at the initial capture and during experimentation

• Ask the right question

• Careful design of the experiments (systematic and thoroughness)

• The prediction of outcome is based on sound logical arguments

• Proper controls to be included

• Sound interpretation based on valid presupposition, logical arguments, consistent outcomes

• Conclusion can be translated into new knowledge

Discover! Discover! DISCOVERY SCIENCE – DISCOVERY SCIENCE – describingdescribing the the naturalnatural world world

• Find us more nuts and bolts, Find us more nuts and bolts, • Understand how they work, Understand how they work, • Getting close to the truth, Getting close to the truth, • Appreciate the beauty.Appreciate the beauty.

What do Scientists Actually Do?What do Scientists Actually Do?

Invent!Invent!

INVENTIVE SCIENCE – INVENTIVE SCIENCE – to produce (something to produce (something usefuluseful) for the first ) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experimentsexperiments

It runs through the same steps as discovery science does.

What do Scientists Actually Do?What do Scientists Actually Do?

Scientists study the world as it is; Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been. engineers create the world that has never been.

The former focuses on discovery and find out how The former focuses on discovery and find out how and how things happen;and how things happen;

the latter focuses on invention and make the latter focuses on invention and make

things happen.things happen.

InnovationInnovation is a culture impacting science, is a culture impacting science, engineering, business and social economic practices.engineering, business and social economic practices.

In our education, it is implicitly there In our education, it is implicitly there but is not explicitly enough to be emphasized but is not explicitly enough to be emphasized

or is often ignored.or is often ignored.

Cultural change does not come overnight, and it Cultural change does not come overnight, and it starts from starts from YOU, TODAYYOU, TODAY..

Humanity’s Top Ten ProblemsHumanity’s Top Ten Problemsfor next 50 years for next 50 years

1.1. ENERGYENERGY

2. WATER2. WATER

3. FOOD3. FOOD

4. ENVIRONMENT 4. ENVIRONMENT

5.5. POVERTYPOVERTY

6. TERRORISM & WAR6. TERRORISM & WAR

7. DISEASE7. DISEASE

8. EDUCATION8. EDUCATION

9. DEMOCRACY9. DEMOCRACY

10. POPULATION10. POPULATION

(Rick Smalley)

2009 6.8 Billion People2050 9-10 Billion People

[4 Billion are from Asia]

We in Asia should not just contribute to the problem, We in Asia should not just contribute to the problem, but also to the solution.but also to the solution.

Our younger generation is our problem solvers,Our younger generation is our problem solvers,solution of tomorrow.solution of tomorrow.

We need a solution, an effective one.We need a solution, an effective one.

We can work on existing technology and existing solution,optimize their efficiency and yield

…but how far can we go?

Can the Moore’s Law be applied beyond the semi-conductor industry?

• is a continuous process:is a continuous process: new ideas and knowledge today quickly lose their new ideas and knowledge today quickly lose their value and become common practice tomorrow and new value and become common practice tomorrow and new ideas are always in demand [ideas are always in demand [we need discoverywe need discovery]]

• facing a changing world, solutions do not come only facing a changing world, solutions do not come only from improved efficiency.from improved efficiency. • research is the key to this renewal.research is the key to this renewal.

InnovationInnovation

How are Science and Engineering covered How are Science and Engineering covered in our education system?in our education system?

• UUni-disciplinaryni-disciplinary• FFacts findingacts finding• OOverwhelmed with details verwhelmed with details

• Lag behind the current frontier (I teach what I have learned)Lag behind the current frontier (I teach what I have learned)• Lack reward for innovation (beyond syllabus syndrome)Lack reward for innovation (beyond syllabus syndrome)• Lack motivation to explore (we know it all syndrome)Lack motivation to explore (we know it all syndrome)

We value innovation, yet we often fail to put it into reality.We value innovation, yet we often fail to put it into reality.

WhyWhy BIO?BIO? • ChemistryChemistry• PhysicsPhysics• TechnologyTechnology• Medical engineeringMedical engineering• BiomaterialBiomaterial

• BioengineeringBioengineering• Bio-energyBio-energy• Chemical BiologyChemical Biology• BioNanotechnologyBioNanotechnology• BioelectronicsBioelectronics• BiocomputingBiocomputing• Bio-XBio-X• etc….etc….

An example - BIO can serve as the nucleation siteAn example - BIO can serve as the nucleation site

• Unfortunately, traditional study of biology tends to be Unfortunately, traditional study of biology tends to be rather qualitative, not enough quantitative to make prediction rather qualitative, not enough quantitative to make prediction and facilitate detailed design specification, i.e., and facilitate detailed design specification, i.e., old fact.old fact.

• Unfortunately, traditional study of engineering tends to be Unfortunately, traditional study of engineering tends to be far out there to apply, not having sufficient emphasis to far out there to apply, not having sufficient emphasis to integrate basic components from integrate basic components from discoverydiscovery..

• We need to go beyond multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary We need to go beyond multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary

to to trans-disciplinarytrans-disciplinary to reach the to reach the final convergence.final convergence.

No one will doubt about the potential of No one will doubt about the potential of Bio-XBio-X as one as one of the if not the most powerful technical solutions.of the if not the most powerful technical solutions.

Adoption of engineering principlesAdoption of engineering principles

Specifications defined/refined

Implementation & fabrication

Modeling

Design

Concepts of prototype

Improvement

Testing & measurement

Analysis / Feedback

A few examples of Innovation A few examples of Innovation via science (BIOL) and engineeringvia science (BIOL) and engineering

1. ENERGY1. ENERGY2.2. WATER & ENVIRONMENTWATER & ENVIRONMENT3. DISEASE & DRUG3. DISEASE & DRUG

[quoted from iGEM][quoted from iGEM]

EnergyEnergy

Electric current production in Electric current production in Shewanella oneidensisShewanella oneidensis MR-1 in MR-1 in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to harvest the electricity produced.microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to harvest the electricity produced.

The production of current can be induced by lactose, heat or light.The production of current can be induced by lactose, heat or light.

Harvard 2008

Water and EnvironmentWater and Environment

Sensitivity Tuners and Color Sensitivity Tuners and Color Generators can be Generators can be implemented to tune the implemented to tune the sensitivity of the promoter to sensitivity of the promoter to detect a concentration of detect a concentration of pollutants appropriate to the pollutants appropriate to the biosensor's desired biosensor's desired application, and to report the application, and to report the presence of an presence of an environmental contaminant environmental contaminant at different concentrations. at different concentrations.

Cambridge 2009

The E.ncapsulator is a novel protein manufacture and delivery platform designed to overcome manufacturing, storage, preservation and delivery hurdle in pharmaceutical industry.

Drug Production and DeliveryDrug Production and Delivery

Imperial College 2009Imperial College 2009

1.1. ENERGYENERGY

2. WATER2. WATER

3. FOOD3. FOOD

4. ENVIRONMENT 4. ENVIRONMENT

5. POVERTY5. POVERTY

6.6. TERRORISM & WARTERRORISM & WAR

7. DISEASE7. DISEASE

8.8. EDUCATION (problem solving, humanity)EDUCATION (problem solving, humanity)

9. DEMOCRACY9. DEMOCRACY

10. POPULATION10. POPULATION

What problems remain?What problems remain?

Asia at NightAsia at Night 090923 KLC

Innovation, Science & EngineeringInnovation, Science & Engineering(consider regional needs)(consider regional needs)

SingaporeSingapore

KoreaKoreaSwitzerlandSwitzerland

1.1. National support and vision (a national strategy)National support and vision (a national strategy)The central government has shown the will. We should not look North for help, The central government has shown the will. We should not look North for help,

but look beyond our border for competitors and models.but look beyond our border for competitors and models.The culture needs to be changed, and it has.The culture needs to be changed, and it has.

Would this Boston-New York-San Francisco axis work?Would this Boston-New York-San Francisco axis work?

HK Chief Executive’s Policy AddressHK Chief Executive’s Policy Address

• Education Education ServicesServices• Medical Medical ServicesServices• Testing and Certificate Testing and Certificate ServicesServices• Environmental IndustriesEnvironmental Industries• Innovation and TechnologyInnovation and Technology• Cultural and Creative IndustriesCultural and Creative Industries &&• Financial Financial ServicesServices

• I hope that we are not talking about services to increase the revenueI hope that we are not talking about services to increase the revenuebut but a real directivea real directive with with a long term commitmenta long term commitment

to sustain our growth, national and international impact (not only our well being).to sustain our growth, national and international impact (not only our well being).The culture needs to be changed.The culture needs to be changed.

2. Local government’s vision2. Local government’s vision

3. Business and industrial sectors’ support3. Business and industrial sectors’ support

• Only government funding is not sufficientOnly government funding is not sufficient• It is a good starter, it also needs the business to carry the ballIt is a good starter, it also needs the business to carry the ball• We should definitely get out of our manufacturing model, moveWe should definitely get out of our manufacturing model, move

towards the value-added mode and go innovativetowards the value-added mode and go innovative• Venture capital injectionVenture capital injection• Change of mentality for short term rewardChange of mentality for short term reward• High yield comes with high riskHigh yield comes with high risk• Innovation’s success rate is < 5%Innovation’s success rate is < 5%[You celebrate when you have one, but stick your neck out for[You celebrate when you have one, but stick your neck out for a longer term gain]a longer term gain]• We need flag-ship story to tell the public and investorsWe need flag-ship story to tell the public and investors• It is It is a culture to be changeda culture to be changed

4. Tertiary educational institutions’ support4. Tertiary educational institutions’ support

• Internal competition hurts everybodyInternal competition hurts everybody• Go national and internationalGo national and international• Cooperation among institutions would not diminish one’s Cooperation among institutions would not diminish one’s strength and identity, but will increase competitivenessstrength and identity, but will increase competitiveness• Entrepreneurship of academic staffEntrepreneurship of academic staff• Be bold and think big Be bold and think big • A culture to be changedA culture to be changed

5. Public’s understanding5. Public’s understanding

• Public engagement is important.Public engagement is important.• A policy without the public support will wear you out.A policy without the public support will wear you out.• Awareness of the public about innovation, its riskAwareness of the public about innovation, its risk and benefit.and benefit.• The public support nurtures our next generationThe public support nurtures our next generation• A culture to be changedA culture to be changed

A Successful Knowledge-Based Society: A Successful Knowledge-Based Society: innovation and creativity in this new cultureinnovation and creativity in this new culture

National support and visionNational support and vision Sufficient resources: Sufficient resources: Vision without funding is hallucination!Vision without funding is hallucination! Un-corruptive government with visionUn-corruptive government with vision Entrepreneurial spirit supported by financial markets and a Entrepreneurial spirit supported by financial markets and a

venture capital systemventure capital system Steady flow of new bloodSteady flow of new blood Risk-taking culture with no stigma attached to failing and Risk-taking culture with no stigma attached to failing and

tryingtrying Freedom and independence to thinkFreedom and independence to think A strong trans-disciplinary academic cultureA strong trans-disciplinary academic culture An engaging and supportive publicAn engaging and supportive public

• A new innovative culture shared by A new innovative culture shared by all partiesall parties

• Not the culture we share in our gut, Not the culture we share in our gut, the bacteria! the bacteria!

The Solution is HereThe Solution is Here