Science Across Boundaries

We are witnessing an ever-accelerating pace of technological advances that build on scientific discoveries to deliver benefits to society in areas as diverse as industrial productivity, human health, life-long learning, and quality of life.  Examples from recent successes of the impact of science can be seen in the speed and efficacy with which vaccines were developed and globally distributed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the transformative effects taking place in essentially every field of research thanks to rapid progress in computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning.   Advances in AI are also revolutionizing how we teach, learn, work and live — leading to opportunities, rewards and risks that must be identified and handled carefully.

In parallel with these developments, we are also witnessing inter-generational, multi-national, and system-level challenges, compounded by geopolitical developments, human activities, and imprudent use of otherwise beneficial technologies and planetary resources that collectively threaten our ecosystems and ways of life.  These challenges inevitably require scientific approaches to provide the necessary tools, mechanisms and policy guardrails to maximize societal benefits and to minimize unintended consequences.  However, public trust in science and the necessary long-term support to sustain and nurture the impactful role of science in advancing global society are also under growing threat in key parts of the world.  These challenges call for a critical examination of not only the transformative trends at the frontiers of scientific research shaping society, but also of aspects of intellectual leadership required to thoughtfully address challenges so that appropriate policies could be developed and implemented in a timely manner.

Within this broad framework, the International Symposium “Science across Boundaries” will gather scientists, engineers, leaders from academia, industry and government, and policy makers to examine frontiers of research transforming society from different perspectives.   

This symposium will be held in honor of Prof Subra Suresh in recognition of his pioneering and globally acknowledged contributions to several different scientific fields.  In addition to his impactful scientific work spanning four decades of research, education and mentorship to scholars around the world, Prof. Suresh has provided leadership through key positions at the highest levels of academia, industry, government, public service, and policy making.  His work has demonstrated how science and technology can cross boundaries to help solve the problems of our society.

The Symposium will be held in the historical building of the Real Fábrica de Tabacos of the University of Seville and will be jointly organized by IMDEA Materials Institute of Madrid and the University of Seville, with units from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brown University serving as co-sponsoring institutions.  The Symposium will feature technical sessions in different areas of cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, including those in which Prof Suresh has made impactful contributions. Each session will include a forward-looking opening lecture followed by panel discussions by international leaders in the field.  As an outcome of this symposium, we plan to prepare concept papers emerging from the various sessions on interdisciplinary topics, such as: AI, machine learning and the future of scientific discoveries; engineering and biomedicine; mechanics of materials and applications to plant science and geoscience; the science of materials and sustainable energy technologies; and leadership and scholarship in policy making and governance.