I am delighted to be here at the BA Festival of Science once again, and to join so many of our best scientists in celebrating and sharing the very latest in scientific developments.
I am particularly pleased to be able to say a few words to you today before this debate on the subject of "Is the brain a machine?" This fascinating topic is the focus of discussion for a number of eminent scientists involved in the Cognitive Systems project, one of the current projects under the government's Foresight Programme. These scientists, some of whom are here today, are seeking to provide a vision for the future development of cognitive systems through an exploration of recent advances in neuroscience and computer science. The other project, which is running at the moment, is one on flood and coastal defences.
The Foresight Programme was set up to help harness the UK's strengths in science and technology by bringing together networks of scientists, business people and government to identify the opportunities and challenges of the future. It operates through a flexible rolling programme of projects that come up with visions of the future reflecting the potential impact of science and technology, and that deliver clear recommendations for action by government, business, research funders and others.
Today we have published a consultation document seeking views and ideas for further Foresight projects. We are looking for projects where science and technology can make a difference; projects that add real value; that take us beyond our current planning horizons. And projects that bring together disciplines or professions that may not realise how closely their work could be linked.
A number of top scientists from a range of disciplines met with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor David King, to draw up a list of 12 potential subject areas for study. They came up with a varied list, which encompassed a varied and fascinating range of projects including:
- Cyber trust - trust in the use of electronic communications
- Land use - the development of an holistic approach to land use
- Untreatable infectious diseases - including drug resistant diseases
- Creative leisure - technologically advanced creative leisure industries
- Intelligent search engines – to maximise the value of large databases
- New technology for health – to create new methods of healthcare delivery
From these 12 topics, and any ideas, which people suggest, a number will be chosen to add to those, which are already being studied.
I hope you will take a look at our website - www.foresight.gov.uk - and give your views. This is an opportunity for everyone to make an input into Foresight at an early stage and, as a consequence, to help the UK be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
I hope this debate today will serve to whet your appetites about what the Foresight Programme is doing, and that some of you will take part in the consultation on the next part of Foresight, because Foresight is most effective when a wide range of people participate.
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