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 Today as never before innovation is a dominating force in daily life, spurring ever more rapid change. Globalization, the increasing mobility of people and ideas and the potential of science and its applications hold out both promise and challenges for a constantly evolving society. Hence the need to build an educational and training system that meets the needs of an economy that is increasingly based on human capital. At the same time, the industrial world faces the additional challenge of recasting social policies to take account of its aging population. Many responses to these needs could come from research, as shown by the new opportunities to enhance health and the quality of life offered by molecular biology. However, these very developments also raise questions and fears that could stifle progress in the field if an effort is not made to involve the public in a real, open debate. It is therefore essential that we focus our gaze on the horizons of development in order to identify risks and opportunities. This is the aim of the eighth edition of "Ten Nobels for the Future", the last of this century. |
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The Modern Economy, "An investment in knowledge pays the best return". In today’s rapidly changing, knowledge-driven society, Benjamin Franklin’s famous aphorism is more relevant than ever. Around the world, equity markets increasingly place higher value on people and other intangible assets than on plant, equipment, and natural resources. Roughly 70 percent of a nation’s wealth today is in the form of human capital rather than physical capital. Returns for growth in knowledge, education and skills are very high in the United States and even higher in underdeveloped countries. All signs point to the value of education and knowledge in the new economy. The vast imbalance between the supply and demand for quality education provides an enormous, untapped global market. At the same time, new developments in learning science and technology have facilitated the creation of engaging, interactive course content. And, the increasing prevalence of personal computers and internet access has enabled global delivery of high-quality education. This talk will demonstrate the importance of knowledge and learning in modern economies. Much of this learning will take place not only in schools, but also at work and at home during most of the adult lifetimes of men and women. Distance learning is an especially efficient way to bring adults up to date on new developments in different fields. Its advantages include that distance learning economizes on the time of learners, and can take place at their convenience. In particular, distance learning does not require going to a physical learning site. As broadband communication continues to develop, the effectiveness of distance learning will continue to get better. |
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