Science and Sustainability. Impacts of Scientific Knowledge and Technology on Human Society and its Environment
Proceedings of the Plenary Session
25-29 November 2016
Acta 24
Vatican City, 2016
E-Pub ahead of print
OPENING SESSION
Word of Welcome
Werner Arber
Presentation of the Plenary Session
H.E. Msgr. Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo
Long Term Responsibility
Jürgen Mittelstraß
The Project for Mankind for a Sustainable Development of the World
Antonino Zichichi
Discussion
NEUROSCIENCES AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION SESSION
Building a Bridge from Neuroscience to Education
Stanislas Dehaene
Discussion
Educating for Sustainable Development: A Crucial Role for Science Academies
Pierre Léna
Discussion
SPECIAL SESSION • Cosmology on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Msgr. Georges Lemaître’s Death
The Future of Space Exploration and Technology
Martin J. Rees
Discussion
Exploiting Solar System Resources: Opportunities and Issues
Guy Consolmagno
Discussion
The Origin of the Universe
Stephen W. Hawking
The State of Understanding of the Nature and Evolution of the Observable Universe
James P. Peebles
Discussion
The Quantum Universe
Robbert Dijkgraaf
Discussion
What We Learn When We Learn that the Universe is Accelerating
Saul Perlmutter
Discussion
Thousands of New Worlds
Lisa Kaltenegger
Discussion
The Figure and Legacy of Msgr. Lemaître
Thomas Hertog
Discussion
Role of Space Technology for enabling inter-generational equity of natural capital and disaster resilience: Corollaries of Indian Space Program
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Discussion
Scaling in Particle Physics and Cosmology
Rudolf Muradyan
Discussion
CHEMISTRY SESSION
Atmospheric Chemistry and Sustainability
Mario J. Molina
Discussion
Novel Strategies for Energy Devices Based on Advanced Materials
Chintamani N.R. Rao
Discussion
BIOLOGY SESSION
Sustainable Cohabitation of Living Organisms
Werner Arber
Discussion
New Development in Genome Engineering: Scientific and Ethical Aspects
Nicole Le Douarin
Discussion
New Knowledge on the Causes of Human Congenital Malformations and its Impact on Society
Edward M. De Robertis
Discussion
The Challenges of Complexity in the Life Sciences and Society
Wolf J. Singer
Discussion
My Sixty-Six Years of Medical Research
Michael Sela
Discussion
Impacts of Microbial Studies on Human Society and its Environment
Takashi Gojobori
Discussion
Plastics in the Ocean: A Current Perspective on Their Biodegradation
Rafael Vicuña
Discussion
General discussion
HUMAN SCIENCES SESSION
Presentation on the Current Status of Organ Donation and Transplantation Around World – With the Dilemma of Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism
Francis L. Delmonico
Discussion
The Advancements in the Fight Against Cancer
Salvador Moncada
Discussion
The New Alliance Between Science, Policy and Religion in the Pursuit of Sustainability
Veerabhadran Ramanathan
Discussion
Award Ceremony of the Pius XI Medal to Mariano Sigman
SELF-PRESENTATIONS AND COMMEMORATIONS
Self-Presentations
Francis L. Delmonico, Cédric Villani, Salvador E. Moncada, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Commemorations
Czesław Olech: Mathematics
Walter Thirring: Physics
Alexander Rich: Biophysics ➜ Werner Arber
Charles Townes: Physics ➜ William Phillips
Georges M.M. Cottier: Philosophy
Ahmed Zewail: Chemistry/Physics ➜ Theodor W. Hänsch
Raymond Hide: Geophysics ➜ Martin J. Rees
Mambillikalathil G.K. Menon: Physics ➜ Chintamani N.R. Rao
Audience with Pope Francis, Hall of the Consistory, Apostolic Palace
Presentation of the Proceedings of the International Colloquium of April 2013 entitled “Sur le chemin de l’Humanité. Via humanitatis. Les grandes étapes de l’évolution morphologique et culturelle de l’Homme. Émergence de l’être humain”, co-edited by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and by CNRS Editions. Interventions by the President Werner Arber and Professor Henry de Lumley
SPECIAL SESSION • Energy
Introduction
Theodor Hänsch
Energy in Perspective
Stephen Chu
Discussion
The Future of Energy
Carlo Rubbia
Discussion
Solar Cells and Solar Energy
Klaus von Klitzing
Discussion
What to Expect from Nuclear Fusion Energy
Sibylle Günter
Discussion
New Prospects for Electrical Batteries
Yi Cui
Discussion
Sustainable Thorium Energy for the World
Jean-Pierre Charles Revol
Discussion
Efficient Use of Electrical Power in the Context of Sustainability
William Phillips
Discussion
General Discussion
PHYSICS SESSION
New Photonic Ways to Control Local Infections in Young Kids – Avoiding the Antibiotic Catastrophe
Vanderlei S. Bagnato
Discussion
Down the Carbon Staircase!
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Discussion
SPECIAL SESSION • Food & Nutrition – The Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Welcome and Introduction
Ingo Potrykus
The Need for Sustained Improvements in Food and Nutrition of the Poor
Joachim von Braun
Increasing Crop Yield Potential: A Role for Genetic Modification?
Peter Beyer
Discussion
Reducing Mineral and Vitamin Deficiencies Through Biofortification: Progress Under HarvestPlus
Howarth Bouis
Discussion
Effects on Biodiversity
Peter Raven
Discussion
Sustained Soil Management – “No Till” – Agriculture
Mariano M. Bosch
Discussion
Socio-Economic Impacts Pro Poor
Matin Qaim
Discussion
The Role of the Public Sector – “New Technologies”
Marc van Montagu
Discussion
The Role of Plant Biotechnology in Human Health. Public Sector Constraints: The Golden Rice Experience
Adrian Dubock
Discussion
The Devastating Effect of Regulation and the Nobel Laureate Campaign in favor of GMOs
Richard J. Roberts
Discussion
Summary
Joachim von Braun
CLOSING SESSION
General Discussion and Final Statement
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