2030

Imagine living in 1958, and knowing that the integrated circuit--the microchip--was about to be invented, and would revolutionize the world. Or imagine 1992, when the Internet was about to transform virtually every aspect of our lives. Incredibly, this book argues that we stand at such a moment right now--and not just in one field, but in many. In 2030, authors Rutger van Santen, Djan Khoe, and Bram Vermeer interview over two dozen scientific and technological experts on themes of health, sustainability and communication, asking them to look forward to the year 2030 and comment on the kind of research that will play a necessary role. If we know what technology will be imperative in 2030, the authors reason, what can we do now to influence future breakthroughs? Despite working in dissimilar fields, the experts called upon in the book - including Hans Blix (Head of the UN investigation in Iraq), Craig Venter (explorer of the human DNA), and Susan Greenfield (a leading world authority on the human brain), among many others - all emphasize the interconnectedness of our global networks in technology and communication, so tightly knit that the world's major conflicts are never isolated incidents. A fresh understanding of the regularities underlying these complex systems is more important than ever. Using bright, accessible language to discuss topics of universal interest and relevance, 2030 takes the position that we can, in fact, influence the course of history. It offers a new way of looking forward, a fresh perspective on sustainability, stability and crisis-prevention. For anyone interested in modern science, this book will showcase the technologies that will soon change the way we live.

Auteur

Rutger van Santen is theoretical chemist who joined Eindhoven University of Technology after a 16-year career at Shell Research. During his tenure, he developed a specific interest in the function of engineering in our current society. Djan Khoe is Professor of Electro-Optical Communication at Eindhoven University of Technology. An award-winning researcher, he has been honored as a Fellow of both the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and the Optical Society of America. Bram Vermeer is a freelance science journalist with a background in physics who has been writing about technology for Dutch newspapers and scientific journals for 25 years. He lives and works alternately in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Contenu

PART 0 BASICS 0.0 Our Mission 0.1 Concerns 0.2 Approach PART 1 NEEDS 1.0 Vital Networks 1.1 Water for Life 1.2 Food for All PART 2 EARTH 2.0 Our Planet 2.1 Dealing with Our Climate 2.2 Improving Energy Efficiency 2.3 Searching for New Energy 2.4 Sustainable Materials 2.5 Clean Factories PART 3 TOOLS 3.0 Our Assistants 3.1 Smarter Electronics 3.2 More Communication 3.3 Reaching Everyone 3.4 Cryptography 3.5 Managing Failures 3.6 Robust Logistics 3.7 Advanced Machines PART 4 HUMANS 4.0 The Nursery of Life 4.1 The Transparent Body 4.2 Personal Medicine 4.3 Preparing for Pandemics 4.4 Quality of Life PART 5 COMMUNITIES 5.0 Engineering Society 5.1 Essential Education 5.2 Maintaining Identity 5.3 Prospects of Cities 5.4 Disaster Scenarios 5.5 Reliable Finance 5.6 Peace PART 6 VISION 6.0 Agenda Notes and References Acknowledgments Index