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Globalising Academics: A physical scientist perspective Paul Valdes

Globalising Academics: A physical scientist perspective Paul Valdes School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. Background.

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Globalising Academics: A physical scientist perspective Paul Valdes

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  1. Globalising Academics: A physical scientist perspective Paul Valdes School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol

  2. Background • Science is already very global (e.g. 50% of the world's top physicists no longer work in their native countries. 64% of US Engineering PhDs are foreign students). • Climate Change is an example of this global science • Big Science and a Big Issue (and a very public issue)! • Major part of an even bigger challenge on global change • Understanding how to create sustainable and resilient Earth system • Intrinsically global and interdisciplinary • Long history of working in global networks dating back to 1950’s

  3. Hugely Interdisciplinary Hugely Interdisciplinary P S I D Pressures Driving Forces in Society State Change in Environment Impacts on Society KYOTO: Signed & ratifiedSigned, not ratifiedNeither Find alternatives Inform society about changed risks Social prioritisation to halt/reverse warming? Legislation to stop emissions Response

  4. Climate Change is already a Global Network • Lots of high level, strategic type, agencies (e.g. World Climate Research Programme, UN Environment Programme, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change…..) • Networks of researchers, networks of disciplines, of research organisations, of universities, of funders, networks for information, for knowledge, networks for education, for dis-education (bloggers!) • Networks of networks!!!

  5. Globalising Academics: Some the challenges for “big science” • What are the best investments for knowledge production? • How can we strengthen the integration of information and knowledge across disciplines and across universities? • How can we better “match” university networks to academic networks? • What about funding for international “big science”? • And of course, how can we respond to this globalisation and reduce our carbon footprint !

  6. Peering into the Future The Ultimate Challenge! "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." --Nils Bohr, Nobel laureate in Physics "Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge. " --Lao Tzu, 6th Century BC Chinese Poet "This is the first age that's ever paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one. " --Arthur C. Clarke

  7. Information Chain v Knowledge Chain Slide courtesy of Bruce Hewitson Univ. of Cape Town

  8. Climate Change is already a Global Network • “There is a clear need for an internationally coordinated and holistic approach to Earth system science that integrates natural and social sciences from regional to the global scale.” (Earth System SciencePreview, 2008)

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