CSPC 2017

Panel Organizer: Dr. Tina McDivitt, Spindle

It is not clear how current organizational, technological and cultural structures of science might provide solutions to complex global issues like climate change, public health and food and water insecurity. This panel will discuss the need for new approaches of scientific research and development to overcome these grand challenges. Focus will be on R&D systems that draw from multiple scientific approaches and engage societies as well as professional and commercial stakeholders in defining the scale, scope and foci of research. Similar systems have sprung and dissipated sporadically in the past to mobilize and effectively act on impending challenges. Highly cited examples include the US Space Programme and the Manhattan Project.
Panelists will outline emerging models of knowledge creation and integration that are cognizant of the non-linear, highly uncertain and high risk nature of true “leaps and bounds” innovation. Discussion will focus on three major topics: 1) the need for transdisciplinary scientific research where traditional disciplines meld through entirely new processes, reward mechanisms and common languages to answer questions that are derived from societal needs. 2) the need for bridging platforms and dedicated resources to enable science-based transformation of industries 3) the need for collaborative networking where knowledge is created, evaluated and distributed through an array of professional groups and commercial, public research and health organizations.