Key Pages
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OUTLOOK |
Biology and Biotechnology |
Chemistry |
Complexity |
Computer Science |
Ecology and Earth Sciences |
Economics |
Energy |
Materials |
Mathematics |
Nanotechnology |
Social Sciences |
Space Sciences |
Physics |
Psychology |
Geography of Science |
Structure of Science |
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THE PROJECT |
Project Description |
Project Team |
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INSTITUTIONS |
Horizon Scanning Centre |
Institute for the Future |
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The ongoing process of identifying all living species and determining their interdependencies, range, life cycle, and population size will one day be completed, possibly in the next 50 years.
Greater access to computing resources may allow complex ecosystem modelling to reach a level of detail that could inform a significant improvement in our stewardship of the planet and its resources.
Advances in several different technologies could improve the accuracy of forecasting of local and regional weather.
As growing populations exhaust the ability of natural sources to supply fresh water, new nanotechnologies for purification of waste streams and desalinisation of ocean water could fill the gap.
Nanomanipulation at the quantum level of chemical reactions could ameliorate chemical pollution.
Widely distributed sensor networks that will increase the amount and quality of data available to modellers may open new avenues of research in seismology.
As technologies to mitigate the climate change that now seems inevitable are developed, their availability will probably vary widely across regions and nations. The developed world will likely be capable of dealing with localized impacts in the next 50 years, while the developing world will struggle to cope with widespread challenges.
