What is the future of science?
Insights from my interviews with leading scientists and visionaries
Holly Barton, Director of Strategic Alignment
I have a fun job. As a staff member at the Science Mill, “work” includes lots of surprises. After all, this is a place where my colleagues drop parachutes designed by kids from the tops of towering silos, to see which can safely cradle an egg. And build a 30-foot steel hand with moving fingers because…well, why not?!
As we prepare for the Science Mill’s 6th Annual Benefit, Navigating the In-Between: The Future of Science, my “work” has been the unique privilege of speaking with 11 amazing scientists, artists and visionaries (oh, and one MacArthur Fellow!). In watching their short presentations recorded exclusively for the Science Mill, here’s what I learned about the future of science:
Coding, programming and data analysis skills are key
Not all scientists wear a white coat, hold a beaker and work in a lab! This theme echoed loudly across fields—from neuroscience to astrophysics to biomedical engineering to virology. Kids who want to pursue a STEM career need to be skilled in coding, programming, data analysis and statistics. In his talk about artificial intelligence, Matthew Stepka acknowledges that, while we may be on the edge of Moore’s Law, the amount of new scientific data being collected is massive—there’s so much waiting to be analyzed and understood.
Collaboration between disciplines is the future
A number of scientists discussed the need for “cross talk” between areas of science, design, technology and art to propel innovation. What if, as Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood proposes, we took biology’s basic body of knowledge across millions of species and applied that knowledge to solve problems? Perhaps a solution comes from making a robot with gecko feet, or studying caterpillars’ adaptations to toxins to create new cancer medications. Technology now provides opportunities for innovators to collaborate on a global scale. It’s an exciting time to be scientist!
Diversity matters
Dr. G. David Tilman describes how, in an experiment with 170 plots of prairie land, research shows that the greater the number of species, the greater the ecosystem’s productivity and stability. Just as diversity matters in nature, diversity in education and the workforce matters, too. Many of the scientists shared how having diverse voices at the table improves the efficiency and quality of scientific research.
Yet too many voices remain absent or silenced. Dr. Snell-Rood shares a study showing empirical proof that demographically underrepresented students innovate at a higher rate than majority students, but their contributions are discounted and less likely to earn them academic advancements.
Susan Orr illustrates the “funnel effect” in engineering: over the course of college and into the workforce, women’s representation in the field gradually—but significantly—drops. To understand why, she interviewed 350 female STEM professionals to uncover barriers to gender diversity in the workplace. Her talk lays out seven key issues, several of which impact men, too.
We must continue to support underrepresented students, including minorities, first-generation students, and girls, in their pursuit of a STEM career. Which leads to our final point:
We need to nurture kids’ interest in STEM
Some of these scientists knew from an early age exactly what they wanted to pursue as a career. (Be sure to listen to Dr. Keith Hawkins’s talk to hear how a crush on a girl in elementary school led him to astrophysics!) One constant in finding their paths was the encouragement of parents, teachers or professors. We know that not all students have that support in their lives. How can we, as a community, help support these students, who are often the diverse voices that science needs? One area discussed was financial support, such as sponsoring paid research positions, so students don’t need to choose between summer jobs and unpaid internships. Here at the Science Mill, that support starts with STEM Career Immersion Camps that introduce students to a world of future possibilities.
Ten-year predictions: The Future of Science
I couldn’t resist asking our experts for a few specific predictions about the next decade:
According to astronaut Tom Henricks, NASA will put a woman on the moon within five years. Within 10 years, humans will walk on Mars!
Dr. Hawkins predicts that the Gaia spacecraft, also known as the Billion Star Surveyor, will provide the most precise 3D star map of the galaxy ever attempted—mapping about 1 billion stars (or 1% of our galaxy) at a cost of €1 billion.
Matthew Stepka expects superhuman capabilities from computers and machine learning that will make a real impact on our everyday lives (beyond facial recognition and translation, for example).
Dr. Mark Thomas is already exploring optogenetics, or the use of light to activate or inactivate specific pathways in the brain. This cutting-edge technology will be expanded in the next decade to make advances in treating addiction.
Should we hold our scientists to these predictions? No flying cars, so I’d say it’s safe to check in again in 10 years. Until then, I’d like to leave you with my two favorite quotes from the talks:
“Void the warranty. Bust things open and figure out how they work.” – Leo Villareal, Artist
“There is only one answer: it’s science!” – Vincent Racaniello, Virologist
I hope you’ll take the opportunity to watch one or all of these enlightening talks during this special event and learn how you can help support the next generation in the Future of Science.
