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SCIENCE FICTION BECOMING SCIENCE FACT

SCIENCE FICTION BECOMING SCIENCE FACT. THE MOLECULAR CONVERGENCE TULSA, OK 9-21-07. “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”. Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Boeing 787. Converging Technologies. Nanotechnology Biomedicine

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SCIENCE FICTION BECOMING SCIENCE FACT

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  1. SCIENCE FICTION BECOMING SCIENCE FACT THE MOLECULAR CONVERGENCE TULSA, OK 9-21-07 Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  2. “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  3. Boeing 787 Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  4. Converging Technologies • Nanotechnology • Biomedicine • Information technology Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  5. The Greater Tulsa Opportunity • Harness the possibilities of new science • New job creation • Economic growth and development • Urban renewal • Creative expansion • Better living and better lives • Fulfillment of human potential • Stockholm, Sweden Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  6. What is Nanotechnology? • Manipulation of molecules and matter • Precision assembly of matter • Living systems do this every minute of every day • Building proteins • Respiration • Plants −photosynthesis Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  7. The Nanoscale Is Pretty Small • One nanometer (nm) − one millionth the width of a human hair • 10 hydrogen atoms side-by-side = 1 nm • Visible light approx. 500 nm Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  8. Where the Nano-Action Is • All nano action is at the surface − it’s all about the surface area • As a particle gets smaller and smaller, its surface area compared to its volume gets greater and greater • Villi of small intestine • Receptors on cell membranes • DNA packing in chromosomes • DNA in one cell is six feet long!!! Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  9. Surface Area • At the nanoscale, surface properties become crucial AND controllable • And, properties change based on the dimensions Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  10. Nanotechnology and the Future “There is no industry that will not be touched by nanotechnology.” Dr. Eric Isaacs, Director of the Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, and Professor of Physics, James Franck Institute, University of Chicago Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  11. Where’s the Beef? Carbon nanotubes • Super strong • Super light • Super flexible • 60-100 times as strong as steel • Excellent conductors, so great for electronics Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  12. Engineering, Aerospace,Space Exploration $100K per pound to launch to Mars and Jupiter • Lighter and stronger nano-materials • Instrumentation • Propulsion • Navigation systems • Sensors Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  13. The Right Stuff • Carbon nanotube-based x-ray tubes • Evaluate small rock samples (for Mars in 2009) • Tiny gas sensors based on carbon nanotubes • Analyze extraterrestrial atmospheres • Sensor webs • 1000s of tiny sensors • Sensing and computing capabilities • Planetary-wide topography, atmosphere, signs of life Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  14. Smart Spaceships 15-20 minutes for one-way signal between Mars Rovers and JSC in Houston Need autonomous (independent-thinking) spacecraft for long-range missions • Spacecraft makes decisions locally • Need enormous computing power • Enter nanotechnology! Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  15. Petaflop Computing • One million times faster than what’s on our desktops (1015 versus 109) • Need super-fast components • Nano-computing • Molecular transistors (switches) • Ultra-high-density memory chips • (109 more than is possible right now) • Use optics (light) rather than electrons • Side benefit − laptops won’t get hot  Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  16. ENERGY The number one problem facing the next generation of scientists • Alternative sources • Renewable sources • Sustainable sources Need innovative solutions − multidisciplinary approaches Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  17. Nanotechnology and Energy The 50 Terawatt (TW) Problem Where’s all the energy going to come from? Global energy consumption was 14 TW per year in 2002 • Energy is already a scarce resource • Energy is our #1 national security issue Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  18. 2100 Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  19. 2100 Based on projections, the world will consume 50 TW of energy in 2100. In 1953, the science fiction master Robert Heinlein wrote “Revolt in 2100”. He may have been very close to the truth. But − help may be only 93,000,000 miles away. Sunlight brings 14 TW of energy per day to the surface of the Earth Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  20. Nanotechnology − Pathways to Energy • Photovoltaics • Solar cells • Solar panels • Photosynthesis • Biomimetics − mimic this process using nanoscale technology • Biology • Chemistry • Engineering Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  21. Nano-Bio Interfaces Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  22. Nano-Bio Interfaces Inorganic-organic composites • TiO2–DNA • Titanium dioxide–DNA interface • A nanoscopic battery !!! • TiO2 (a semiconductor) absorbs sunlight • DNA separates the electric charge • The structure stores the charge like a battery Current grand challenge – how to store charge? “What do you do at night?” Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  23. Nanotechnology and Education “Create a new curriculum for nanobiology” • Help each discipline understand the others • Basic biology for engineers • Develop full majors in nanobiology, nano-economics, nano-engineering Dr. Nathan Cady, Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY University at Albany Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  24. Nanobiology • Mimic biology to build structures at the nanoscale • Genetically modifiable biological macromolecules • Harness cellular proteins to build a structure on an inorganic surface • Build circuits • DNA-based biosensors to detect pathogens • Multiplex sensors – detect 10-100 pathogens in a sample • Implantable prosthetic devices • Tissue bioengineering Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  25. Robotics • Build new mathematical models for robots • Program many simple rules → emergent autonomous behavior Dr. Dennis Hong, Director, Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, Virginia Tech Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  26. Robotics at Virginia Tech DARwin (Dynamic Anthropomorphic Robot With Intelligence) • Navigates obstacles and traverses uneven terrain • Plays soccer • Competed in 2007 RoboCup • Communicates by sign • Reads “dance” and dances • Reads “handshake” and shakes hands • Plays dice game Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  27. Robotics at Virginia Tech MARS (Multi-Appendage Robotics System) • Uses lightweight carbon tube construction • NASA developing legged vehicles for zero-G activities • Autonomous inspection and maintenance outside space station Whole Skin Locomotion – cytoplasmic streaming • Search and rescue – collapsed building • Medical apps – robotic endoscope Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  28. Biomedicine – Cancer Research Cancer affects 1.3M Americans each year • New diagnoses • 25% hereditary; 75% environment and exposure Of these, 550,000 will die of cancer What we need is early detection and eradication! Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  29. Challenges in Cancer Treatment • Not identified early enough for prevention and effective treatment • At-risk population is not well-identified • Current treatment based on “how the tumor looks under the microscope” VERSUS the molecular changes that are the REAL PROBLEM • Current treatment represents “average treatment for the average tumor” BUT no two tumors are alike Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  30. Help the Cancer Clinician “Am I or my family at risk for cancer?” • Identify genes that predispose to cancer • Identify molecular signatures in early cancer Cancer patients – “What kind of treatment will I get and will I survive?” • Understand changes in cancer cells • Advanced pharmaceuticals targeted to specific alterations Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  31. Cancer Profiling “Certain mutations are a beacon telling us something has gone wrong” “We need more sensitive technology to find subtle changes at low concentrations” Dr. Francis Barany, Professor of Microbiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Director of Mutation Research, Strang Cancer Prevention Center Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  32. Natural History of Cancer Chromosomal instability • Gene duplication • Gene rearrangement • Gross losses of chromosome material So – most solid tumors have many genetic mutations And, tumor cells can suppress or silence genes that normally suppress cell growth And, malignant cells have multiple strategies to allow them to become invasive or metastatic Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  33. Respect for the Cancer Cell’s Adaptability • Evade normal mechanisms of the immune system • Ability to acquire a blood supply • Ability to become highly motile and travel in the blood stream and lymphatics Cancer therapy is an arms race. Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  34. Molecularly Targeted Therapy • Study how genes are disregulated in cancer progression • Identify the genetic signatures of cells • Probe gene expression, determine which are upregulated and which are suppressed Dr. Barbara Hempstead, Co-Division Chief, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  35. Obesity and Cancer • Obesity ↑ risk of breast CA by 50% • Fat cells are small biochemical factories → produce estrogen, polypeptide GFs (e.g., insulin) • Overabundance of these biologically active proteins promote carcinogenesis (hypothesis) • Fat cells produce leptin, which promotes breast CA cell growth and metastasis • High leptin levels are correlated with higher-grade tumors Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  36. Cancer Therapy • “The genetic makeup of single cancer cells is very important.” • Cells that express different types of receptors will respond to different combinations of drugs • Anti-estrogens and anti-GFs • How diet might modify expression of cancer-related genes Dr. Eva Surmacz, internationally recognized expert in cancer biology – Director, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sbarro Health Research Organization Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  37. Genomic Medicine Genetic risk assessment • Family history • Genetic screening – genomic data “Personalize” treatment to groups • ↑ surveillance • ↑ screening Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  38. Genomic Medicine Cancer genetics nirvana – “keeping healthy people healthy” Smart consumer – “how’s my family history and what’s my genetic risk” 20-50 years – highly accurate risk assessment based on family and personal hx, and a small panel of genes Dr. Charis Eng, Chair and Founding Director, Genomic Medicine Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  39. Science Education National Science Foundation K-12 Initiative • Grad students mentor middle-school and HS teachers • Focus on problem-based learning • “Interactive pedagogies” • Engage and excite students in math and science education Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  40. Create the Next Generation of Scientists • Responsibility to communicate science to the public • Engage in how science is taught • Be translators – explain their own work Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  41. Underrepresented Populationsin the Sciences • Center for Science Education at Emory University • Summer programs for 9th-11th graders • 97% go on to college science majors • 150 new curriculum models Dr. Pat Marsteller, Director, Emory College Center for Science Education Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  42. Clear Communication • Address public concerns about science and how science is done • Use jargon-free language • Address need for basic research and its costs • Codes of ethics and safety protocols • Self-correcting nature of science • Public learns not to believe what they read in newspapers • Public learns they can ask questions, too Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  43. Conclusions Five Grand Challenges (the 5 E’s) • Energy • Environment • Economics • Education • Ethics (harmony, global cooperation) Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  44. Conclusions • Grand challenges in medicine • Personalized, preventive, and prescriptive medicine • Cancer prevention and treatment • Diabetes and obesity • Alzheimer’s disease • Heart disease and stroke • Quality of life with increasing longevity We live in the most exciting time in history for human growth and development Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

  45. Thank you! Dr. David Lemberg Executive Producer, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

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