Welcome to the 2020 Science Archive
2020 Science started life in 2007 as a nanotechnology blog written by Andrew Maynard on SafeNano. In the following years it developed into a personal blog addressing emerging technologies, responsible innovation, risk, science communication, and the intersection between science and society more generally.
Andrew made he decision to wind the blog down in 2019 as his focus and writing developed in new directions. This archive contains most of the original posts (there have been occasional clean-ups of content). For more recent articles etc. please visit andrewmaynard.net. And thanks for visiting!
BROWSE THE ARCHIVE
Davos 2011: Global Risks permeate conversations this year, but where’s the science?
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...
Davos 2011 – physics superstar meets music superstar; talks cosmology
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...
Asking smart people dumb questions – the new role of challengers at Davos
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...
Obama spotlights innovation, but how do we get it right?
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...
Davos 2011: Desperately seeking Google
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...
Nanotechnology – what web resources do you find most helpful?
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...
Building a sustainable future: World Economic Forum tackles the opportunities and challenges presented by technology innovation
"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...
Obama’s 21st century regulatory system will demand more innovative thinking on risk
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...
NOVA Making Stuff, nanomaterials and a web-lactating goat
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...
Nanoparticle Toxicity dropped from the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report
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...