Science and technology require a broad change of perspective and overview. This presentation addressed the requirements of the Americas for advancing towards world-class scientific leadership with human values at its core.

1. Science and Technology, the 21st Century
and the Americas: Towards Regional
Multidisciplinary Envisioning
Santiago Núñez Corrales
Director of Digital Technologies
Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications
Steering Committee Member
Advanced Research and Technology Collaborative for the Americas
Board Member,
Foundation Pro Renewable Energy

2. Themostexcitingbreakthroughs of the 21st
centurywillnotoccurbecause of technologybutbecause of
anexpanding concept of whatitmeansto be human.
John Naisbitt

3. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
How are we here? What is life?
How does the mind work?How can we grow together?

4. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
How are we here?
Cosmology
Astronomy
Quantum Physics
Mathematics
Computing
Grand open questions:
• Unification of gravity with the Standard
Model of Physics
• A precise, fundamental concept of time,
space and energy
• A model of the universe at sub-Planck
scales
• A model for understanding the particular
tuning of fundamental constants in the
universe

5. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
What is life?
Biology
Chemistry
Nanoscience
Mathematics
Computing
Grand open questions:
• Identification of the minimal functions of a
living system
• Identification of the minimal components of
a living system
• A complete model of a minimal
environment capable of sustaining life
• A complete model of a minimal
environment capable of producing live
entities from non-living materials

6. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
How does the mind work?
Grand open questions:
• Understand how neurons and their firing
patterns translate into simple (and complex)
thinking
• Understand awareness and consciousness in
an integrated view
• To determine fully the role of emotions and
qualia
• To develop a systemic model capable of
predicting behaviour
Biology
Chemistry
Neuroscience
Medicine
Mathematics
Computing

7. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
How can we grow together?
Grand open questions:
• Identify the core elements of a balanced
society between development and self-
transcendence
• Determine the role of human interactions
leading to global behaviour
• Develop a model of social behaviour
integrating all possible aspects of life
• Make power structures accountable to the
public
Biology
Social Science
Humanities
Arts
History
Mathematics
Computing

8. … and theirdilemmas
How are we here? What is life?
How does the mind work?How can we live together?
Is life inevitable?
Is death avoidable?
How does society
impacts us?
How to build a better
society from each of
us?
Dowematter?
Doweexist?
Right?
Isintelligencenecessary?

9. Nature is parsimonious
Nature is connected
Nature is organic
Nature is diverse
Nature is complex (for us)

10. TheFour Great Frontiers of Science
How are we here? What is life?
How does the mind work?How can we grow together?
General Systems
Theory
Stochastic Systems
Network Theory
Supercomputing
programming
language design
More efficient
supercomputers
A new grammar for
mathematics

11. The Challenges
Mathematics is required to understand nature, and it
requires a change in its language.
Better models and copious data are necessary to
analyse, predict and model nature.
Science-driven policies need to be put in place to
improve our lives in connection with nature.
Science needs to become accessible to the general
public by means of visualization and simulations.

12. From the exploration of the frontiers of knowledge,
grand open questions arise.
From solving the questions, fundamental philosophical
dilemmas arise.
Advancing the status of humanity often depends on
actively taking a stance on such dilemmas.

13. 6.52. We feel that even if all possible scientific questions
be answered, the problems of life have still not been
touched at all. Of course there is then no question left,
and just this is the answer.
Ludwig Wittgenstein. TractatusLogico-Philosophicus.

14. TheValues of theAmericas
Resources are finite Biodiversity must be protected
Human talent is invaluableTrue collaboration is essential

15. Public policy makers need to be aware of the great scientific
challenges, given the ethical questions they continue to pose.
Any institution dealing with STI systems has to be fluent not
only in the language of science, but also needs from the
humanities and the arts for communicating and attracting new
talent.
The Americas are in a privileged position to tackle many of the
grand open questions with fresh eyes and new ideas, taking
advantage from available hemispheric resources.
A proper envisioning for STI requires regional collaboration in a
global world.

17. Science
Directorate
National
database of
research
scientists
Science
Prospection and
International
Cooperation
National
Roadmaps for
Converging
Sciences
Science and
Economic
Development

18. Nature composes some of her loveliest
poems for the microscope and the
telescope.
Theodore Roszak, Where the Wasteland

19. Thank you
santiago.nunez@micit.go.cr