Scientific Breakthroughs in Big Data, Brain Science and Ebola Possible for 2015

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 24 January 2015 – In a world of geopolitical unrest and economic sluggishness, developments in science offer needed bright spots on the horizon for 2015. Leaders of scientific institutions and Nobel laureates discussed the global outlook for science in the coming years in a session at the 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. They identified big data, brain science, physics and epidemiology as some of the fastest changing fields of research.

“Dealing with data is really becoming a central object of study for science,” said Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President, European Research Council, Belgium. For example, the complexity of the human brain demands sophisticated computational tools to understand how neurons interact and stimulate cognition. Big data has offered scientists new tools for exploring this complexity.

The result represents tremendous opportunities for scientific breakthroughs. “This is an amazing century for the life sciences,” said Francis S. Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health, USA. Increasingly, the major frontiers in science – from the origins of the universe to neuroscience – require interdisciplinary and international approaches. The genome project represents one example of this collaboration by bringing together engineers, computational scientists, biologists and others.

How can such interdisciplinary projects be encouraged in the future? Innovative funding models can encourage partnerships, and technology facilitates data-sharing. However, scientists often face difficulties securing funding for fundamental research.

One challenge is the long timeframe for basic research. “Scientific research works on a longer cycle than the election cycle,” said Konstantin Novoselov, Research Fellow, Mesoscopic Physics Research Group, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. “We have to fight for the money from the people who don’t get the benefits.”

Collaboration has expedited results and improved research in areas such as vaccines for Ebola, for example, as well as projects such as CERN’s complex of particle accelerators in studying astrophysics. “Some of these big databases that we are starting to assemble are opening knowledge about the world to people everywhere,” said France A. Córdova, Director, National Science Foundation (NSF), USA.

Scientists cautioned that breakthroughs in research are not enough to change societies. Research must be complemented by smart public policy and public action. One of the areas in which progress has been lacking involves global action to address climate change.

“We in science are doing a lousy job in communicating the extent of the risks we are facing,” said Mario Molina, Professor, Centro Mario Molina, Mexico. Social scientists can play a role in understanding political and behavioural obstacles that have thwarted efforts to address climate change.

“Science is this great tool for predicting knowledge,” said Brian Schmidt, Professor, Australian National University, Australia, “but it’s not guaranteed to come up with solutions fast enough.”