Destruction of environment, overpopulation top risks for mankind, say top scientists

RUMI HARDASMALANI Today Online 31 Aug 17;

SINGAPORE — The two greatest threats facing mankind are environment destruction and overpopulation, according to a survey that polled 50 Nobel prize-winning scientists by the Times Higher Education at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.

The poll was conducted in a series of annual conferences in Bavaria and released yesterday.

The resurgence of populism and the polarisation of politics were also cited as the most worrying trends today.

Some 40 per cent call these twin phenomena a “grave threat” to scientific progress, while 30 per cent say that they are a “serious threat”.

Just 5 per cent (two respondents) are entirely unconcerned, while 25 per cent perceive a “moderate threat”, reported the Times Higher Education.

Nuclear war, misinformation, drug-resistant diseases, artificial intelligence and Facebook were among the other phenomena regarded by the 50 Nobel laureates as serious risks, said the report.

At a forum here organised by Swiss bank UBS on Wednesday, four Nobel laureates in economic sciences echoed similar concerns.

The Nobel laureates were addressing more than 1,000 university students from across Singapore as they debated a wide range of topics from labour markets and the changing employment landscape, to financial risk and social systems.

Dr Peter Diamond of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who won the Nobel prize in 2010 for his work on labour markets, noted that climate change will greatly exacerbate the challenges in dealing with the world’s migration problems.

Highlighting cyber war as another emerging threat, he added: “We are scrambling to build defences against cyber crime. It is going to shake things up … with the astonishing rate of growth of biology, there is a lot of talk about ethical concerns associated with bio-terrorism. The more biology is understood, technology makes it easier and cheaper to experiment,” added Dr Diamond.

Dr Michael Spence of NYU Stern, who received the Nobel Prize in 2001 for research on the dynamics of information flow and market development, agreed that cyber security and the role of technology would become more urgent in the future economy.

“It is not about the machines per se. It’s about us, and our interaction with the machine,” said Dr Spence.

He added that rules are needed to monitor new risks that come about with increased use of technology and cyber systems.

Responding to concerns raised by students at the forum about the lack of jobs in the future economy, the scientists had reassuring words for Singapore’s youth.

“Pursue your passion. Whatever you are doing, if you love what you do, don’t be afraid,” said Dr Robert Merton, who won the Nobel prize in 1997 for his research on financial theory.

While transitioning from information absorbers to active participants in businesses and economies, the future generation must have the ability to adapt to changes with a readiness to develop new skills and learn as they fail, he added.

“Remember there are alternatives and think about your current position as an experiment to be able to evaluate,” said Dr Diamond.

According to Dr Roger Myerson of the University of Chicago, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 2007 for the foundation of mechanism design theory, Singapore is well-positioned for the future.

“You can go to China, to India, to the Middle East, and to the English-speaking world. All of those traditions and cultures come together here. You are developing more awareness of the world that will enable you to make connections with people all over the world.

“That is a tremendous advantage as you develop your careers and grow the country.”