New technologies for a changing future
What do you think? Have your say.
This will be a post for those readers of the insert, New technologies for a changing future, in each state’s rural newspaper, and other interested people, to share your vision for the challenges, opportunities or concerns about the future and the impact of new technologies.
It will be published and available in the editions going out during National Science Week in August
I will add some content to kick this off soon
As promised – the content
The publication, New technologies for a changing future, is out and should be in your hot hands and we want your thoughts. It can be downloaded here
He is some initial food for thought:
What sort of world do we want to live in, now, in 20 years, in 50 years? By what means are we prepared to achieve this?
Earth and humanity itself are facing a barrage of issues that need to be circumvented if we are to keep a habitable planet with a bunch of healthy, happy humans on it.
For example:
Energy
We are facing climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gases, there will also be constraints on fuel from oil as we near peak oil. Scientists are researching biofuels from a range of sources such as cellulosic waste and algae, in addition to finding ways to safely and efficiently use hydrogen. Energy to generate electricity can come from clean coal, nuclear, solar, wind, and other renewable.
Food
Food production is facing the constraints of needing to produce more food with less water, fuel and inputs such as fertiliser, and unless we halt or reverse land degradation, less land as well.
Health
We are living in an ageing world, at least for us here in the developed nations. This will eventually have implications for our health services and the need to treat and look after a growing elderly population and the ailments that come with it.
In the context of this publication, the question for society (ie you) is what role should technologies have in helping solve these problems – and loads of others? That is how can or should technologies fit in with the other potential solutions that could come from social/cultural, political, economic and humanitarian-based changes?
On page 2, Dr Alex Wonhas, Director of the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship, says, “We will need a culture of continued innovation to be able to respond more rapidly to unexpected changes and continue to strive for a fairer, richer, and more sustainable society.”
The future is not what it used to be
Probably all the technologies in this publication have potential, but as pointed out in the story on CSIRO’s report, Our future world, “In relation to nanotechnology, the report states that this recent and rapidly emerging field offer many solutions for human health and manufacturing, however, nanomaterials may present risks not captured within existing risk identification and mitigation processes.”
So in reference to my first paragraph, by what means are we prepared to solve these problems? What risks are acceptable and under what circumstances?
How much influence can the introduction of these technologies really make in relation to the differences that might come from changes in the political, cultural, ethical, and economic spheres?
Your turn now. I look forward to your thoughts.