is now a high expectation of a third revolution in the life sciences that will have to
build on the first two revolutions, blueprinting the future innovations (Sharp 19
Dec. 2014, p. 1470; http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html, vii).
2
It is important, however, to remember that any technological solutions triggered
by the scenario of life sciences convergence, that may prove effective and efficient
in meeting the global challenges in the short-term, will be only a part of the
solution, invariably accompanied by much unintended baggage of unintended
consequences. The other part of the solution must, therefore, come from the
long-term perspective of a culture of wisdom, the endless frontier that includes
accelerated knowledge resources dynamics, enhanced public understanding of
science, large-scale lifestyle changes in society, the drivers of moral progress and
ecology-society-economy-technology-entrepreneurship strategic interface-building
at the most challenging frontiers.
1 Climate Change Agenda: Knowledge-Based Climate
Economy, Risk Society, Rethink-Tanks
‘How can a fundamental understanding of living systems reduce uncertainty about the
future of life on earth, improve human health and welfare, and lead to the wise stewardship
of our planet? (http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html, vii)’
In the ringing of the climate change warning bells, so loudly and clearly being
heard for the past few decades, may be seen an opportunity for the various sciences
and engineering to increasingly converge on a common frontier. As regards the
question, whether it is possible for the sciences to go even beyond convergence, I want
to suggest in what follows, first, that it is imperative to go even beyond re-integration
on way to convergence. No doubt, convergence on common frontiers is fast emerging
as a promising scenario for strategic action in the life sciences’ horizon. It promises to
benefit not just the climate modelling techniques within ecological economics and
(Footnote 1 continued)
Jacques Monod “for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis”,
together with the elucidation of the genetic code, established how information in DNA is
transferred within the cell to synthesize cellular proteins and thus other components. In the next
decade, scientists wanting to look still deeper into the secrets of the gene investigated biology at
the molecular level, triggering three advances in the mid-1970s that changed society: recombinant
DNA, DNA sequencing, and chemical synthesis of DNA. The second revolution in the life
sciences, the sequencing of the human genome that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was
completed in the early 2000s, with the draft sequence in 2001 and the complete sequence in 2003.
This second revolution has led to several innovations, among them the insights into the genetic
causes of cancer and other chronic diseases and the development of inexpensive and rapid
technology to sequence DNA (Sharp, 19 Dec. 2014; http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html).
2
A New Biology for the twenty-first century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming
Biology Revolution http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html Committee on a New Biology for the
twenty-first century: Board on Life Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies.
Knowledge-Based Climate Economy …
135
build on the first two revolutions, blueprinting the future innovations (Sharp 19
Dec. 2014, p. 1470; http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html, vii).
2
It is important, however, to remember that any technological solutions triggered
by the scenario of life sciences convergence, that may prove effective and efficient
in meeting the global challenges in the short-term, will be only a part of the
solution, invariably accompanied by much unintended baggage of unintended
consequences. The other part of the solution must, therefore, come from the
long-term perspective of a culture of wisdom, the endless frontier that includes
accelerated knowledge resources dynamics, enhanced public understanding of
science, large-scale lifestyle changes in society, the drivers of moral progress and
ecology-society-economy-technology-entrepreneurship strategic interface-building
at the most challenging frontiers.
1 Climate Change Agenda: Knowledge-Based Climate
Economy, Risk Society, Rethink-Tanks
‘How can a fundamental understanding of living systems reduce uncertainty about the
future of life on earth, improve human health and welfare, and lead to the wise stewardship
of our planet? (http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html, vii)’
In the ringing of the climate change warning bells, so loudly and clearly being
heard for the past few decades, may be seen an opportunity for the various sciences
and engineering to increasingly converge on a common frontier. As regards the
question, whether it is possible for the sciences to go even beyond convergence, I want
to suggest in what follows, first, that it is imperative to go even beyond re-integration
on way to convergence. No doubt, convergence on common frontiers is fast emerging
as a promising scenario for strategic action in the life sciences’ horizon. It promises to
benefit not just the climate modelling techniques within ecological economics and
(Footnote 1 continued)
Jacques Monod “for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis”,
together with the elucidation of the genetic code, established how information in DNA is
transferred within the cell to synthesize cellular proteins and thus other components. In the next
decade, scientists wanting to look still deeper into the secrets of the gene investigated biology at
the molecular level, triggering three advances in the mid-1970s that changed society: recombinant
DNA, DNA sequencing, and chemical synthesis of DNA. The second revolution in the life
sciences, the sequencing of the human genome that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was
completed in the early 2000s, with the draft sequence in 2001 and the complete sequence in 2003.
This second revolution has led to several innovations, among them the insights into the genetic
causes of cancer and other chronic diseases and the development of inexpensive and rapid
technology to sequence DNA (Sharp, 19 Dec. 2014; http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html).
2
A New Biology for the twenty-first century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming
Biology Revolution http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12764.html Committee on a New Biology for the
twenty-first century: Board on Life Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies.
Knowledge-Based Climate Economy …
135