January 2011

Davos 2011 – Partnering with teens to build a better world

by Andrew Maynard January 29, 2011

This is not a science and technology post – which is a bit odd for a science and technology blog.  But I wanted to introduce five people who together shake up the whole idea of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos as being an elitist and increasingly irrelevant gathering of middle aged balding guys [...]

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Davos 2011: Global Risks permeate conversations this year, but where’s the science?

by Andrew Maynard January 29, 2011

Cross-posted from the Risk Science Blog. Take a metaphorical slice through this year’s annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, and Global Risk would be writ large through every part of it.  Hot on the heels of the sixth Global Risk report, this year’s meeting saw the launch of the Risk Response Network – a [...]

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Davos 2011 – physics superstar meets music superstar; talks cosmology

by Andrew Maynard January 28, 2011

I don’t usually write about personal interactions here, but this is one I couldn’t resist – physics superstar Lawrence Krauss talking cosmology with music superstar Peter Gabriel. I was with Lawrence at a World Economic Forum dinner when he bumped into Peter – as one does!  He immediately launched into an animated discussion on the [...]

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Asking smart people dumb questions – the new role of challengers at Davos

by Andrew Maynard January 27, 2011

Cross-posted at ForumBlog.org – the World Economic Forum blog My high school physics teacher used to tell me there’s no such think as a dumb question.  It’s a lesson I’ve carried with me through my professional career as a scientist.  But it’s a philosophy that might be just about to come back and bite me. [...]

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Obama spotlights innovation, but how do we get it right?

by Andrew Maynard January 25, 2011

Technology innovation was front and center of Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight.  This is extremely good news for those of us who believe more needs to be done, and done better, to ensure science and technology translate into effective solutions that enable economic and social growth.  But recognizing the importance of technology innovation [...]

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Davos 2011: Desperately seeking Google

by Andrew Maynard January 24, 2011

It’s that time of year again – 2000+ of the worlds top movers and shakers are beginning to descend on the Swiss ski town of Davos for this year’s Annual World Economic Forum meeting.  Political heavyweights like Clinton, Annan, Sarkozy and Cameron will be intermingling with the likes of Gates, Bono,  deNiro, Carreras and a [...]

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Nanotechnology – what web resources do you find most helpful?

by Andrew Maynard January 24, 2011

Over at the Risk Science Center blog, I have posted a request for help on web-based nanotechnology resources. Given that 2020 Science has such a nano-savvy readership, I thought I would cross-post the request here. If you have any suggestions on useful websites dealing with nanotechnology – especially those describing potential and actual applications – [...]

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Building a sustainable future: World Economic Forum tackles the opportunities and challenges presented by technology innovation

by Andrew Maynard January 19, 2011

“Technology doesn’t just happen” – people must be sick of hearing me say this.  Yet as chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies, it’s something I seem to end up saying rather a lot as we strive to help decision-leaders maximize the benefits of technology innovation, while avoiding untoward consequences. [...]

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Obama’s 21st century regulatory system will demand more innovative thinking on risk

by Andrew Maynard January 18, 2011

Cross posted from the Risk Science Center Blog: There’s a lot to like in President Obama’s perspective on 21st century regulation. Writing in today’s Wall Street Journal, Obama outlines his thinking behind his new executive order to review and revise a convoluted and potentially disruptive federal regulatory system. But if regulation in the 21st century [...]

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NOVA Making Stuff, nanomaterials and a web-lactating goat

by Andrew Maynard January 15, 2011

Next week sees the debut of the PBS science program NOVA’s new series Making Stuff – a four part special “exploring the materials that will shape our future”, hosted by NY Times technology columnist David Pogue. You may recall that I expressed some reservations over the program’s approach to bioengineered materials a few weeks back [...]

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Lost in the Maize

by Andrew Maynard January 14, 2011

Last September, I started posting my reflections on the weirdness of  academia – amongst other things – every Friday, under the title Lost in the Maize.  In part this was to document the shift from being a pseudo-academic to a real one.  But it was also to provide some motivation to keep on blogging when [...]

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Nanoparticle Toxicity dropped from the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report

by Andrew Maynard January 12, 2011

As I report on the Risk Science Blog, the latest iteration of the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report has dropped “Nanoparticle Toxicity” as an emerging and significant risk.  Instead, the far more generic “Threats from New Technologies” takes its place. This is a welcome move – but I do have some reservations. Certainly, identifying [...]

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Lost in the Maize

by Andrew Maynard January 7, 2011

It’s the beginning of a new year, and I’m going through the usual soul-searching exercise of thinking about what is working and what isn’t with the blog. Over on the 2020 Science Facebook page (remember that?) I’ve asked for readers’ thoughts on what they’ve enjoyed, on 2020 Science, what could be better, what else I [...]

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US National Nanotechnology Initiative draft EHS Strategy – good in part

by Andrew Maynard January 4, 2011

Update 1/6/11: The comment period has been extended to January 21 There are only two days left to comment on the current draft US National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health and Safety strategy (the comment period closes January 6) – so time to read the draft, log in to the portal and add your comments. This [...]

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A bluffer’s guide to Risk Science in the 21st century

by Andrew Maynard January 4, 2011

A few weeks ago, I gave a talk at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati under the slightly provocative title “Small Gods and the Art of Technology Innovation”.  The talk is now available on-line (slides and audio at least) – and viewable below – through the excellent work of the folk at CAC. Rather sneakily, [...]

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Most-read 2020 Science blogs of 2010

by Andrew Maynard January 1, 2011

Which were the most popular 2020 Science blogs of 2010?  In reverse order, based on page views, here are the ten most-read posts:

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