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Science / Technology

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are sometimes known as “the rainforests of the sea.”  They are some of the world’s great tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems.  Coral reefs support the livelihoods of millions of people.  Worldwide, already 25 percent of coral reefs have been destroyed or badly degraded.  Some scientists reckon, that by 2020 up to 70 percent might be permanently lost.  These are areas rich in marine species that are found only in a small area.  Therefore, they are highly vulnerable to extinction.  They supply seafood, building materials, sources for medicinal products, and draw in much needed tourism revenue.  Reefs also protect shorelines and communities from storms and erosion.  Coral reefs are deeply threatened by human activities and global climate change.  Coral reefs are an important source of food for hundreds of millions of people, many of who have no other source of animal protein.  However especially reefs in developing countries are threatened and if human impact on reefs is not reduced there is a great danger, that some of the world’s poorest people will lose an important source of nutrition, and in many cases, their livelihoods.

Pharmaceuticals

Quite topical at the moment with Thailand deciding to ignore intellectual Property rights for medicines.  But I can only imagine this sort of issue will become even more important in the years to come.  Should Third World countries have to respect IP rights and pay for drugs at prices they can afford?  Are pharmaceuticals earning too much profit?  How do you sustain pharmaceutical research and development without incredibly large prices and profits?  Are therapeutic products going too far in developed countries?  It seems worrying that there are a huge majority of drugs out there for trivial issues (e. g. cosmetic), yet medicines for diseases that tend to afflict Third World countries (which are potentially relatively simple and cheap to develop) are neglected.  One only has to look at the blurring between cosmetics and therapeutic products these days to see that we (as a whole) are becoming complacent when it comes to medicines.  That definitely goes with the overuse of antibiotics, in agriculture and farming (I read a study in England concluded that over 50% of antibiotic resistant microorganisms are the direct result of the excessive use of antibiotics used in intensive animal farming (i.e. battery chickens) and in human medicine as well (and we’re now encountering the effects of overuse of antibiotics-diseases with resistance to multiple antibiotics are limiting the ability of modern medicine to cure disease).

Protecting Endangered Ecosystems and Species

In addition to managing physical aspects of our planet, a comprehensive strategy for protecting life is also needed. Key elements include valuation of ecosystem services, salvaging biological hotspots and frontier forests, conservation concessions, improving management of parks, and preserving wildlife areas. Can opposing forces reach a decision that will address the preservation of life?

Science Education

In many countries around the world, particularly in North America and Europe, educators and economists are increasingly expressing a concern that not enough students are choosing to pursue careers in the sciences, engineering, and technology.  Some blame the teachers:  are they not inspiring their students enough and encouraging them to experiment with discovery?  Others blame the market:  can salaries in the sciences compete with those in the fields of business, law, and finance?  Has the investment banker permanently displaced the rocket scientist as the ideal career for high-achieving students in many countries?  What impact will changing career interests have on global security and on economic competition and growth?

Social / Political

Conflict Resolution

As the world becomes more global and interconnected via telecommunications, we are increasingly being brought into contact with people who are different from us. Efforts of the United Nations to avoid violent conflicts seem to be ineffective, especially since global conflicts are now often borderless, involving ethnic and culture clashes, as well as, political differences. History has shown us that bringing the violence to an end does not end the conflict. What methods, skills or procedures does mankind need to develop as we become more connected and inter-dependent so that conflicts can be resolved so that people can co-exist?

Human Rights

Since the end of World War II, many people have prioritized the protection of human rights around the world.  But what exactly are human rights?  Do they vary depending on religion and culture?  Many western countries criticize the Islamic world for its treatment of women, while the United States is often condemned for its use of the death penalty.  Can one nation fight to protect human rights in another nation, and if so, how?  What challenges do globalization and the prevention of terrorism present to the preservation of human rights in the future? 

Online Education

More and more students are learning via online simulations, online dissections as alternatives for preserved specimens, doing experiments and reports online and emailing it to their teachers who can sit at home on their computer and score them.  Teachers can put grades online and can put tests online.  Many websites are available via subscription to test taking and scoring then reporting the grades to the students.  Students do much of their research online and can attend lessons online through virtual classrooms.  With an Internet connection there is no need to leave the home to learn anymore.  Teachers are available at many different schedules and can enjoy their home life while instructing.  As other careers have gone, so can education, via Internet.

Risk Adverse Society

In the good old days, kids climbed trees and didn't worry about falling and breaking their arms. They went to school camps where they undertook high-risk adventure activities. Today, many school camps and outings are being cancelled because administrators can be liable for prosecution if students are injured. With the continuing fear of litigation and over-regulation of occupational safety and health regulations, have common sense and personal responsibility been eroded? Where might this risk adverse society lead us in the future?

Business/Economics

All in a Day's Work

Mobile phones, laptop computers, and the Blackberry have changed where and when people can do work.  Gender equality in the workplace has altered traditional notions of who should be at home and when.  Globalization has led to increased competition and more business interactions across time zones, which means longer hours at work for many.  Is the forty-hour workweek a relic of the past?  What impact will longer work hours and increased telecommuting have on families and on mental health of children and adults?  Several countries have tried to mandate maximum work hours and minimum vacation time, but such policies can lead to higher rates of unemployment and other negative economic consequences.  Will workers in the future, even well educated ones, be able to succeed financially yet still manage to enjoy free time along or with friends and family?

Demographic Shifts

Many regions of the world are experiencing a slow, but increasing population change.  Some rise in population while others decrease.  For example, over the next 25 years, India will grow by over 300 million people to become the most populated country on the planet.  Conversely, entire villages in Europe are closing because the younger generation no longer wants to have a large family to run the family farm or business, and moves to the city to be closer to a more technological and global environment.  Others leave their country for political or religious freedom.  What issues surround preservation of culture as larger groups migrate to various parts of the world?  How will countries sustain economic progress with a diminishing workforce?  How do these issues affect a global marketplace?

Social Insurance

Many countries provide their poor, unemployed, disabled, and elderly citizens with various forms of financial assistance so that they can afford healthcare and other basic needs.  But how much social insurance should countries provide their citizens?  The United States if often criticized for providing the least amount of social insurance compared to other wealthy countries in the world.  But social insurance programs are costly; many fear that Social Security and Medicare in the United States will become unaffordable in the not too distant future.  How should countries pay for these programs?  Often they are paid for through higher taxes, but higher taxation often hurts national economies, creating a greater need for social insurance.  Is it fair for hard working and successful people to have to pay for those who have not been as fortunate?  How can people in countries too poor to afford social insurance be assisted when they are in need?

Trade Barriers

Historically, states have relied on trade barriers, such as subsidies for domestic producers, import quotas, and tariffs, to protect domestic economic interests.  Many economists have long argued though that such barriers can limit potential economic growth, may only benefit certain politically powerful groups like labor unions, and may have other harmful effects.  For example, some have argued that the high occurrence of obesity in the United States can be tied to U. S. subsidies to American corn growers.  To combat these concerns, policymakers around the world have created new treaties and institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, on the theory that reducing trade barriers will increase economic prosperity.  But others argue that the benefits of tearing down trade barriers, like the benefits of creating such barriers, are concentrated, and that Free Trade means fewer jobs and lower wages for farmers, factory workers, and relatively less-educated employees.  Should policymakers strive for Free Trade or Fair Trade in the future, or some balance of the two?