Scientific Research - Discovery and Invention A cross road between Science and Engineering

1. Scientific Research - Discovery and Invention A cross road between Science and Engineering by King L. Chow Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

2. Scientific investigation Observation (I notice) A = B A ≠ B A ≈ B THEN… Questions? (I wonder) Reflection, Generate new questions, more observation IF…. Compare AND… Hypothesis (proposed explanation) • Actual outcomes • (data) Design and conduct experiments B. Predicted outcomes

3. Key quality of a scientific investigation • Validity of Presupposition (預設) and Premises (前题) • Being Observant at the initial capture and during experimentation • Ask the right question • Careful design of the experiments (systematic and thoroughness) • The prediction of outcome is based on sound logical arguments • Proper controls to be included • Sound interpretation based on valid presupposition, • logical arguments, consistent outcomes • Conclusion can be translated into new knowledge

4. What do Scientists Actually Do? Discover! DISCOVERY SCIENCE – describing the natural world • Find us more nuts and bolts, • Understand how they work, • Getting close to the truth, • Appreciate the beauty.

5. What do Scientists Actually Do? Invent! INVENTIVE SCIENCE – to produce (something useful) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiments It runs through the same steps as discovery science does.

6. Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been. The former focuses on discovery and find out how and how things happen; the latter focuses on invention and make things happen.

7. Innovation is a culture impacting science, engineering, business and social economic practices. In our education, it is implicitly there but is not explicitly enough to be emphasized or is often ignored. Cultural change does not come overnight, and it starts from YOU, TODAY.

8. Humanity’s Top Ten Problemsfor next 50 years 1.ENERGY 2. WATER 3. FOOD 4. ENVIRONMENT 5.POVERTY 6. TERRORISM & WAR 7. DISEASE 8. EDUCATION 9. DEMOCRACY 10. POPULATION (Rick Smalley)

9. 2009 6.8 Billion People 2050 9-10 Billion People [4 Billion are from Asia] We in Asia should not just contribute to the problem, but also to the solution. Our younger generation is our problem solvers, solution of tomorrow.

10. We need a solution, an effective one. We can work on existing technology and existing solution, optimize their efficiency and yield …but how far can we go? Can the Moore’s Law be applied beyond the semi-conductor industry?

11. Innovation • is a continuous process: • new ideas and knowledge today quickly lose their value and become common practice tomorrow and new ideas are always in demand [we need discovery] • facing a changing world, solutions do not come only from improved efficiency. • research is the key to this renewal.

12. How are Science and Engineering covered in our education system? • Uni-disciplinary • Facts finding • Overwhelmed with details • Lag behind the current frontier (I teach what I have learned) • Lack reward for innovation (beyond syllabus syndrome) • Lack motivation to explore (we know it all syndrome) • We value innovation, yet we often fail to put it into reality.

13. An example - BIO can serve as the nucleation site WhyBIO? • Chemistry • Physics • Technology • Medical engineering • Biomaterial • Bioengineering • Bio-energy • Chemical Biology • BioNanotechnology • Bioelectronics • Biocomputing • Bio-X • etc….

14. No one will doubt about the potential of Bio-X as one of the if not the most powerful technical solutions. • Unfortunately, traditional study of biology tends to be rather qualitative, not enough quantitative to make prediction and facilitate detailed design specification, i.e., old fact. • Unfortunately, traditional study of engineering tends to be far out there to apply, not having sufficient emphasis to integrate basic components from discovery. • We need to go beyond multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary to trans-disciplinary to reach the final convergence.

15. Adoption of engineering principles Specifications defined/refined Concepts of prototype Design Improvement Modeling Implementation & fabrication Testing & measurement Analysis / Feedback

16. A few examples of Innovation via science (BIOL) and engineering • 1. ENERGY • WATER & ENVIRONMENT • 3. DISEASE & DRUG [quoted from iGEM]

17. Energy Electric current production in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to harvest the electricity produced. The production of current can be induced by lactose, heat or light. Harvard 2008

18. Water and Environment Sensitivity Tuners and Color Generators can be implemented to tune the sensitivity of the promoter to detect a concentration of pollutants appropriate to the biosensor's desired application, and to report the presence of an environmental contaminant at different concentrations. Cambridge 2009

19. Drug Production and Delivery The E.ncapsulator is a novel protein manufacture and delivery platform designed to overcome manufacturing, storage, preservation and delivery hurdle in pharmaceutical industry. Imperial College 2009

20. 1.ENERGY 2. WATER 3. FOOD 4. ENVIRONMENT 5. POVERTY 6.TERRORISM & WAR 7. DISEASE 8.EDUCATION (problem solving, humanity) 9. DEMOCRACY 10. POPULATION What problems remain?

21. Innovation, Science & Engineering (consider regional needs) Asia at Night 090923 KLC

22. National support and vision (a national strategy) • The central government has shown the will. We should not look North for help, but look beyond our border for competitors and models. • The culture needs to be changed, and it has. Switzerland Korea Singapore Would this Boston-New York-San Francisco axis work?

23. 2. Local government’s vision HK Chief Executive’s Policy Address • Education Services • Medical Services • Testing and Certificate Services • Environmental Industries • Innovation and Technology • Cultural and Creative Industries • & • Financial Services • I hope that we are not talking about services to increase the revenue • but a real directive with a long term commitment • to sustain our growth, national and international impact (not only our well being). • The culture needs to be changed.

24. 3. Business and industrial sectors’ support • Only government funding is not sufficient • It is a good starter, it also needs the business to carry the ball • We should definitely get out of our manufacturing model, move • towards the value-added mode and go innovative • Venture capital injection • Change of mentality for short term reward • High yield comes with high risk • Innovation’s success rate is < 5% • [You celebrate when you have one, but stick your neck out for • a longer term gain] • We need flag-ship story to tell the public and investors • It is a culture to be changed

25. 4. Tertiary educational institutions’ support • Internal competition hurts everybody • Go national and international • Cooperation among institutions would not diminish one’s strength and identity, but will increase competitiveness • Entrepreneurship of academic staff • Be bold and think big • A culture to be changed

26. 5. Public’s understanding • Public engagement is important. • A policy without the public support will wear you out. • Awareness of the public about innovation, its risk • and benefit. • The public support nurtures our next generation • A culture to be changed

27. A Successful Knowledge-Based Society: innovation and creativity in this new culture • National support and vision • Sufficient resources: Vision without funding is hallucination! • Un-corruptive government with vision • Entrepreneurial spirit supported by financial markets and a venture capital system • Steady flow of new blood • Risk-taking culture with no stigma attached to failing and trying • Freedom and independence to think • A strong trans-disciplinary academic culture • An engaging and supportive public

28. The Solution is Here • A new innovative culture shared by • all parties • Not the culture we share in our gut, • the bacteria!