Cultural smokescreens

by Andrew Maynard | May 6, 2009 | Civic Science, Emerging Technology, Engagement, Policy, Recommended

50 years on, have we missed the point of C.P. Snow’s “Two-cultures?” 50 years ago, long before Richard Dawkins coined the term “meme,” the British scientist, public figure and novelist Charles Percy Snow planted an idea into the collective consciousness that has since...

Control at the nanoscale: Smallness, strangeness and sophistication

by Andrew Maynard | Apr 29, 2009 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Rethinking Science & Technology

Part 5 of a series on rethinking science and technology for the 21st century Last time in this series of occasional blogs, I made the rather bold statement that while science and technology are going to have a highly visible impact on our lives over the next few...

Obama’s science and technology call to arms

by Andrew Maynard | Apr 27, 2009 | Emerging Technology, Policy

Just in case anyone wasn’t clear, President Obama blew away any residual doubts this morning that he considers science and technology supremely important to the future well-being of the US.  In a stirring and historic speech to the National Academies of Science...

Control: Gaining mastery over the world at the finest level

by Andrew Maynard | Apr 16, 2009 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Rethinking Science & Technology

Part 4 of a series on rethinking science and technology for the 21st century So far in this series of occasional blogs, I’ve covered coupling and communication—two of three “C’s” which together are challenging how science and technology are best used to serve...

Twitter: changing your perspective on reality, 140 characters at a time

by Andrew Maynard | Apr 14, 2009 | Communication, Emerging Technology, Engagement

13 “Twits” Who Will Change Your Perspective on Reality Back in the days when Twitter was a mere slip of a social media service—around four months ago by my reckoning—it was a byword for meaningless web-chatter and banal exchanges.  But the service is growing up...

Communication: Science and technology in a connected world

by Andrew Maynard | Apr 7, 2009 | Communication, Emerging Technology, Rethinking Science & Technology

Part 3 of a series on rethinking science and technology for the 21st century I’m fascinated by the power of communication.  The idea that someone’s perceptions and actions can be changed by information received through sight, sound or touch, is rather profound.  Even...