SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE

10 Sep 2002 09:45 AM

Drug resistant diseases, 100% recyclable products, and brain science amongst subjects highlighted

Drug resistant and infectious diseases, brain science for the treatment of addiction, trust in the use of electronic
communications, and 100% recyclable products have today been highlighted as some of the areas that present the greatest challenges and opportunities for the future of science and technology in the UK.

The issues have been identified in a consultation document published today by the Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury on which subjects should be studied in the next stage of DTI's future-looking Foresight programme.

Lord Sainsbury, launching the consultation in a speech at the British Association's Science Festival in Leicester, said:

"We face a number of exciting and challenging opportunities in science and technology in the UK. Through the DTI's Foresight programme we seek to identify what these challenges and opportunities might be. I want to encourage as many people as possible to give their views in this consultation. It is an opportunity for everyone to have an input into Foresight at an early stage, and as a consequence, to help the UK be prepared for the future."

A number of top scientists from a range of disciplines met with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor David King to draw up a list of 12 potential subject areas for study. Each topic is considered a possible subject area for Foresight to investigate. From these 12 topics and any other ideas that people suggest, a number will be chosen to add to the two (flood and coastal defence, and cognitive systems) already being studied.

The subject areas identified were:

- cyber trust - trust in the use of electronic communications;

- the lifecycle of products - the reduction of waste in manufacturing and production of fully recyclable products;

- land use - the development of an holistic approach to land use;

- energy for the future - looking into future fuel sources, including renewables;

- untreatable infectious diseases - including drug resistant diseases;

- 21st century infrastructure - sustainable technologies for housing and transportation;

- knowledge exploitation - ensuring that the speed of exploitation of new science increases;

- creative leisure - technologically advanced creative leisure industries;

- intelligent infrastructure systems - self-regulating intelligent systems and networks;

- brain science and drugs - understanding of brain function and the prevention and treatment of addiction;

- intelligent search engines - to maximise the value of large databases; and,

- new technology for health - to create new methods of healthcare delivery.

In addition to these 12 topics, Foresight would also like to hear about any other areas it should consider. The consultation runs until 4 December 2002.

Notes to Editors

1. The UK Foresight programme looks ahead to the future by bringing together business and scientists to identify and explore potential opportunities from new science and technologies.

2. The current round of Foresight - launched in April 2002 - operates through a fluid, rolling programme that looks at 3 or 4 areas at any one time.

3. The consultation document can be found on www.foresight.gov.uk, or for a hard copy please contact; Adam Deadman, DTI, Bay 5107, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET Tel: 020 7215 6728 Fax: 020 7215 6715

4. Responses to the consultation can be e-mailed to Foresight using the forms on the website, or faxed or posted to Adam Deadman at the above address.

5. The scientists who drew up the list were as follow;

Professor David King (Chair) - Chief Scientific Advisor
Dr John Taylor - Director General, Research Councils
(Some of the Foresight projects will report to Dr Taylor)

Professor Polina Bayvel - Royal Society Research Fellow/Reader Optical Networks Group, Dept of Electronic
Engineering, University College, London
Dr Jonathan Blackburn - Royal Society Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge
Professor Vicki Bruce - Professor of Psychology, Stirling University

Dr Matthew Freeman - Group Leader, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Dr Andrew Fitzgibbon - Royal Society Research Fellow, Dept of Engineering, Oxford
Professor Richard Friend - Cavendish Professor of Physics, Cambridge University
Dr Rosie Hails - Ecologist at Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxford
Professor Frank Kelly - Professor of the Mathematics of Systems, Cambridge University
Dr Geoff Mulgan - Director, Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU), Cabinet Office and the Forward Strategy
Unit
Professor Sir Martin Rees - Astronomer Royal and Royal Society Research
Professor , Cambridge University
Professor Michael Walker - Director of Research, Vodafone

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