iMechanica - Comments for "Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics"
https://imechanica.org/node/2908
Comments for "Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics"enMankind has made a great
https://imechanica.org/comment/19489#comment-19489
<a id="comment-19489"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Mankind has made a great breakthrough in exploring the planet, the space and the waters in the last couple of centuries. People would surely use certain amount of reasonable ideas given here in order to <a href="http://www.essaylib.com/dissertation-abstract.php">write my dissertation abstract at essaylib.com</a> someday. Feeling high to find one more clever<br />
person. That was a case of a talent to see such a degree of thinkings.</p>
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</ul>Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:40:25 +0000StimmyJrcomment 19489 at https://imechanica.orgSee also the summary of the recent G8 on Science and Technology
https://imechanica.org/comment/7932#comment-7932
<a id="comment-7932"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
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<a href="http://imechanica.org/node/3419">The G8 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting Chair’s Summary for science and technology </a>
</p>
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</ul>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:49:02 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7932 at https://imechanica.orgA possible restart
https://imechanica.org/comment/7928#comment-7928
<a id="comment-7928"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
<a href="http://imechanica.org/node/3415">Engineering Happiness</a>
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</ul>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:54:47 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7928 at https://imechanica.orgZhigang and Michelle this points also to another challenge
https://imechanica.org/comment/7647#comment-7647
<a id="comment-7647"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7533#comment-7533">More on Google Health</a></em></p>
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The secure cyberspace one, which somebody calls WEB3.0
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We are putting so much personal data on the web, particularly scientists because we are under pressure and usually you see long CV of scientists who put also names of wife and children just to make it longer!
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Now Google has our health condition, who knows if they will sell this to pharmaceutical companies: they are very clever, perhaps more than Elsevier. You like Google Health: I, instead, start to worry...
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I would be curious to know which parts Larry Page wrote of the Challenges! Probably not secure cyberspace... unless they plan to go into that business too. It is an old strategy, first you create a problem, then you are called to solve it.
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<p>
As usual, Zhigang and Michelle, you surprise me for how naif you seem to be, if I may say with no offense.
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</ul>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:45:49 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7647 at https://imechanica.orgMore on Google Health
https://imechanica.org/comment/7533#comment-7533
<a id="comment-7533"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7528#comment-7528">re: Google Health</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Dear Michelle: Glad to hear that you know something about health informatics. Daniel Suo once worked in a local hospital to help with information system. He told me how inefficient the system was.
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About privacy I have had similar reaction. Here is what Google puts out about the <a href="https://www.google.com/health/html/privacy.html">privacy policy</a>. I don't know enough to really comment on it.
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<p>
In any case, this new service seems to be an excellent idea. It attempts to resolve somthing mundane but important by using the Internet. I wish we had ideas like this for some aspect of mechanics.
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</ul>Wed, 21 May 2008 00:54:42 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7533 at https://imechanica.orgre: Google Health
https://imechanica.org/comment/7528#comment-7528
<a id="comment-7528"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7520#comment-7520">A new service: Google Health</a></em></p>
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This is very interesting indeed. I worked with a medical doctor on research at the time when the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIPAA#The_Privacy_Rule" target="_blank">HIPAA privacy rule</a> " was being enacted and the privacy issues associated with health information are extremely important and complicated--it very much changed our research practices. I am not familiar with Google Health but will be interested to see how this service lines up with the HIPAA regs.
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<p>
The idea of a user-centric, portable portal for health information is a great one, however. It has long been the case that the one place where such information is controlled by the patient and not by the doctor or the health insurance company is during pregnancy, and this is at least in part because the person has such a strong interest in their medical care that they become very proactive. I see this development of Google Health therefore as a potentially very promising thing, so long as privacy is maintained.
</p>
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</ul>Tue, 20 May 2008 20:36:04 +0000MichelleLOyencomment 7528 at https://imechanica.orgA new service: Google Health
https://imechanica.org/comment/7520#comment-7520
<a id="comment-7520"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
One of the Grand Challenges, advance health informatics, seems to be unrelated to mechanics, but is related to every mechanician. Google has just <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/peek-into-our-search-factory.html">rolled out</a> a new product: Google Health. Each user can maintain his own Google Health account, just as he maintains his own email account. I went to my Google Health account, and added a condition I had, and a medicine I took. Google pointed me to references about the condition. I can let my doctor access my account. Presumably she will be able to add to my record. If I start with a new doctor, I should not need to fill new forms.
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If you have a gmail account, you can go directly to <a href="https://www.google.com/health">Google Health</a>.
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</ul>Tue, 20 May 2008 05:08:00 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7520 at https://imechanica.orgTractor blades
https://imechanica.org/comment/7407#comment-7407
<a id="comment-7407"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7404#comment-7404">Re: Ten Ph. D. problems</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This is the second time in this thread you've brought up tractor blades. I think this is one great interpretation of these challenges for mechanicians. I would note that greater efficiency here does not only save energy in a green sense, but also could enable farmers in developing nations to increase production.</p>
<p>Elsevier has three journals that seem like they might have material on this topic—<em>Journal of Terramechanics</em>, <em>Soil and Tillage Research</em>, and <em>Computers and Electronics in Agriculture</em>. There seemed to be many interesting articles (especially in <em>Journal of Terramechanics</em>) addressing blade performance issues. From skimming a few abstracts, I do not get the impression very sophisticated computational models are being used.</p>
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</ul>Sat, 10 May 2008 18:09:51 +0000Mike Grahamcomment 7407 at https://imechanica.orgRe: Ten Ph. D. problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7404#comment-7404
<a id="comment-7404"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7402#comment-7402">Ten Ph.D. problems </a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
The short duration of a PhD requires that the problems given to a student be solvable in sa reasonably short period of time. I feel that it's is unreasonable to hand outstanding problems (that is, significant unsolved problems) to a PhD student or a postdoc unless they have worked on parts of the problem before. Also, without external funding (is a fellowship part of that?) how do you propose that a postdoc or a PhD student should feed themselves? I suppose you mean that no expensive experimental or computational work should be involved thus rendering external funding irrelevant. So we are left with theoretical problems that can be solved analytically.
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<p>
Anyway, here are two that I would like an answer to:
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<p>
1) A large amount of energy is needed to turn the soil over every year before a crop can be planted. The basic method has remained the same over thousands of years. Can we use mechanics to find a way of tilling the soil with the least amount of energy use? Do we know for sure that the methods that are in use today are optimal?
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2) Almost every object that is used in modern societies contains some material that has been extracted from the earth. A huge amount of energy is used in crushing rocks to a fine enough size that surface chemistry may then be used to extract a particular metal. Assuming that we would like to use energy more efficiently, is there a way our knowledge of mechanics can be used to minimize the energy used in crushing rocks? A huge number of people have worked on this problem - yet an optimal solution seems as far away as ever.
</p>
<p>
-- Biswajit
</p>
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</ul>Sat, 10 May 2008 05:32:44 +0000Biswajit Banerjeecomment 7404 at https://imechanica.orgRe: Political problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7403#comment-7403
<a id="comment-7403"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7401#comment-7401">political problems </a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Amit,
</p>
<p>
Indeed, all problems can be viewed from a political lens. For example, the current push toward nantechnology is to a large extent driven by political considerations, e.g., the continuance of US hegemony in high technology. Mike's original post also decried a perceived potential loss of western hegemony in the sciences. That's definitely a poltical statement. Also, a large number of research engineers (and mechanicians) contribute to enhancing the military capabilities of their countries. Since the ultimate goal of these types of research is political hegemony via military power, these types of activity may also be classified as political.
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However, my point is that many aspects of seemingly political problems actually involve significant technical challenges. To get research funding to be able to solve these problems definitely requires political acumen. I hope that's what you mean when you say that these problems are political.
</p>
<p>
-- Biswajit
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</ul>Sat, 10 May 2008 05:12:32 +0000Biswajit Banerjeecomment 7403 at https://imechanica.orgTen Ph.D. problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7402#comment-7402
<a id="comment-7402"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
I feel that we need a list of ten outstandingly important problems in applied mechanics/mathematics that can be tackled <br />
by a postdoc or a ph.d. student without the necessity of external funding.
</p>
<p>
-Amit
</p>
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</ul>Sat, 10 May 2008 03:54:14 +0000Amit.Ranadecomment 7402 at https://imechanica.orgpolitical problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7401#comment-7401
<a id="comment-7401"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7368#comment-7368">Grand challenges</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
I see these as political problems and not mechanics problems.
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-Amit
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</ul>Sat, 10 May 2008 03:51:40 +0000Amit.Ranadecomment 7401 at https://imechanica.orgI'm going to ignore the
https://imechanica.org/comment/7395#comment-7395
<a id="comment-7395"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7377#comment-7377">I like Biswajit Banerjee !</a></em></p>
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I'm going to ignore the derogatory statment and reiterate why I did not like the grand challenges, particularly those that had a bio-bent.
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<p>
Research runs from basic science to applied. Some of us have, as a primary goal, research into human health and disease, which tends to be more applied if it is to be directed to the clinic in the next 5-10 years. And this research is fundamentally economically-limited. If we spend ALL of our scarce research resources, not to mention our scarce healthcare resources, on "Grand Challenges" then we potentially miss opportunities in the list of Biswajit's. The things of basic life, sometimes which are addressed by groups such as "Engineers without borders"
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Some of us also believe that there are substantial engineering (and mechanics) opportunities in this field of healthcare that have not yet been exploited, such that human health is not benefiting from the research that already exists to solve problems that we (engineers) find to be commonplace or old news. We don't necessarily need grand challenges beyond "apply the engineering knowledge we already have to problems of medicine and health" in order to make a qualitative impact on the world.
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<p>
"</soapbox>"
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 16:17:42 +0000MichelleLOyencomment 7395 at https://imechanica.orgVery interesting posts:
https://imechanica.org/comment/7390#comment-7390
<a id="comment-7390"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Very interesting posts and messages. My opinion is that science is moving forward as fast as in the days of Leonardo. How does one feel about reaching the space to find other places to live, and/or going nano? As you add to the heap of stuffs (be it anything), as the pile is getting bigger and bigger, any individual contribution is becoming more and more unnoticed.
</p>
<p>
Gopinath
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<p>
Graduate Student
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University of Oklahoma
</p>
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 14:39:56 +0000Gopinath Venkatesancomment 7390 at https://imechanica.orgZhigang very interesting that your proposal was not funded...
https://imechanica.org/comment/7392#comment-7392
<a id="comment-7392"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7389#comment-7389">An old and unfunded proposal to NSF to create iMechanica</a></em></p>
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It reminds me that also Larry Paige could not sell his algorithm when he was just a student.
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This is entirely the problem of Research --- writing proposals which are assessed by burocrats is intrinsically stupid, and this is what has caused the collapse of research. It is burocracts who get the money, and incremental people. You are closer to be a "dropout" millionaire from Harvard, than an incremental Professor.
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This is why Leonardo, Einstein, the big contributors, NEVER made major advancemenst out of proposals, and NOT EVEN from academic positions. We should let research be run more freely. The guy who apparently cracked the 5th Fermat theorem is a Russian who lives with his mum and refused the Field Medal!
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We should think about this when having to design the NAE challenges. I am sure Larry Paige had NO real role there, it is only NAE who put his name. He is VERY secretive about his technology, like atomic bomb at the Manhattan project times and cold war. Imagine if there is anything of any sex/appeal in the NAE workplan. Better NOT to read it or we get confused. Better to read the old LEONARDO manuscripts 550 years old.
</p>
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 14:24:13 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7392 at https://imechanica.orgAn old and unfunded proposal to NSF to create iMechanica
https://imechanica.org/comment/7389#comment-7389
<a id="comment-7389"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7385#comment-7385">Zhigang what is Mechanics in the times of GOOGLE?</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Dear Mike: Your post reminded me of an <a href="http://imechanica.org/node/1484">old and unfunded proposal to NSF to create iMechanica</a>. Many of us have been smitten by the raw simplicity and brilliance of Amazon, Google, and Wikipedia. I'll write more when I find time. Still unprepared for the trip. But for the time being, please take a look at the old proposal, and you will find that you are not alone in many of your sentiments. I believe that we will find a way to channel our creative energy and use our skill of mechanics. </p>
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 11:08:49 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7389 at https://imechanica.orgRe: Mechanics in the time of Google
https://imechanica.org/comment/7386#comment-7386
<a id="comment-7386"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7385#comment-7385">Zhigang what is Mechanics in the times of GOOGLE?</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Michele,
</p>
<p>
First, the youtube link that you've provided does not work (:
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<p>
Though Leonardo was a true Renaissance man, it can be argued that much of what he did ha no immediate impact on the progress of science or the industrial revolution. The reason, I feel, was that he dabbled in too many things and failed to publish.
</p>
<p>
In Indic traditions every person has a countable set of duties to be performed during the course of their life. I believe that it is the duty of scientists to publish their discoveries for the benefit of a wider audience. However, I like the Darwin model rather than the Euler model of publishing :) I wish people would try to reach the limits their ideas/capabilities on a topic before publishing - but that's wishful thinking in our publish-or-perish culture. After all, as Zhigang suggests, we do have to feed ourselves and our families.
</p>
<p>
The grand challenges that face us today cannot be tackled by people skilled in a narrow speciality. On the other hand, there is so much to learn that no single individual can ever hope to provide a solution either. So multidisplinary approaches are the only way to go - however trite that might sound. Therefore I will add another grand challenge to the list. How can we make people versed in diverse specialities come together to solve the other grand challenge problems?
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<p>
The web can be a great enabler in bringing people together. Perhaps we need a Facebook for scientists, a SecondLife for people like you who have decided to stop publishing, and a Grand Challenge Wiki to bring together diverse ideas.
</p>
<p>
-- Biswajit
</p>
<p>
</p>
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 04:36:45 +0000Biswajit Banerjeecomment 7386 at https://imechanica.orgZhigang what is Mechanics in the times of GOOGLE?
https://imechanica.org/comment/7385#comment-7385
<a id="comment-7385"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7382#comment-7382">Grand Chanllenges of Humanity and Solvable Problems in Mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Zhigang
</p>
<p>
I know exactly what our problem is: we are not in the times of Leonardo who (i) was a genius (ii) didn't waste time for publishing (iii) could handle every area of science and technology virtually alone.
</p>
<p>
Here, we want to solve huge problems for humanity, yet we want to do this using only specialized knowledge we have in mechanics, as otherwise we feel that either we are not good, or that we would disperse our energies.
</p>
<p>
As you may realize, I am in a state of confusion after writing my 100th paper, since I found that was not rewarding after all. I have written now a review for Railways industrialists as a polemic note about the previous 200 years of research, saying that the different companies and research centres have worked like in the Tower of Babel, and the punishement for building the Tower not in the spirit of God was that they would speak forever different languages.
</p>
<p>
During this sabbatical, I have first written 4 papers, and sent 2 to JMPS. The 2 editors haven't responded yet, while I have almost forgot what I did.
</p>
<p>
So all this is going to change. We are in the decline of the scientific system as we think of it, for 2 reasons
</p>
<p>
1) it is too old
</p>
<p>
2) it is saturated, and we don't use time efficiently like Leonardo who did not publish
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<p>
Soon, papers will dye, journals will dye, and I have the feeling that I will not write classical papers any more.
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<p>
I was impressed by an article in the magazine Challenges.fr (what a coincidence) about Google, and how crazily ambitious these people are. Far from what it appears in the NAE report, Larry Page has real vision, he is the Leonardo of these days.
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.challenges.fr/business/20080508.CHAP1025457/comment_google_a_chang_le_monde.html">http://www.challenges.fr/business/20080508.CHAP1025457/comment_google_a_...</a>
</p>
<p>
He is going to change the world, not only in informatics, the software, the publishing, but even energy! Since he is a major user of energy, he is investing largely in renewable energy, he is building huge plants, has a lot of secret plans, he knows exactly what to do. When he met Bill Gates in 2002, he wasn't impressed. When he went in the stock market, he created an algorithm on his own to decide the value, and managed to convince venture capitalists to follow his bizzarre strategy, which involved many venture capitalists.
</p>
<p>
So he is maybe also touching mechanics, but to a small extent. He doesn't pose himself constraints. I have seen a video of him lecturing in Berkeley. You should listen to him. No presentation at all, no support, no powerpoint. Just words!! Very original. Simple, brutally simple and effective. Like his blank page which has changed the world.
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka9IwHNvkfU ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka9IwHNvkfU </a>
</p>
<p>
He starts from WIKIPEDIA! This guy is a genius. I cannot imagine how he can be stopped, his motto is "you have to be irrealistic in fixing your goals". And that was Leonardo 500 years ago.
</p>
<p>
We cannot work on our old business for long (except that we have a salary because there are even more old-fashion rules which give us tenure, and a salary).
</p>
<p>
Imechanica is a first step towards doing mechanics in a wikipedia fashion, but it is not working much also because the idea has not convinced the old people. But when we do that, and papers are dead, google will have invented his own system to do collaborative work I am sure.
</p>
<p>
So, we have difficulties in prediction of the future as we are not visionary as Leonardo or GOOGLE people
</p>
<p>
We have been making "pars destruens" - when the part "construens"?
</p>
<p>
For now, I have stopped writing papers, as I have the lack not to have students, and no responsibilities to run a group.
</p>
<p>
And I feel free (although dizzy) since I have embarked into this new idea to speculate and discuss strategies.
</p>
<p>
If you follow, we can make progress. But most likely, mechanics will only be a part, so we cannot discuss much unless other people join in. This is what my portal aims at doing, but it is too ambitious. I hope to have help.
</p>
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</ul>Fri, 09 May 2008 02:57:34 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7385 at https://imechanica.orgGrand Chanllenges of Humanity and Solvable Problems in Mechanics
https://imechanica.org/comment/7382#comment-7382
<a id="comment-7382"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7377#comment-7377">I like Biswajit Banerjee !</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Dear Mike: As they say, all roads lead to Rome (your home town?). A researcher can choose (or random walk) whatever road that pleases her. Start a grand chanllenge and work top down to see what specific problems that she can solve. Or start with her skills and work bottom up to see which grand challenge she can make a difference. Or start in the middle somewhere, end no where in particular, and wish that her work is so beautiful that someone will find a good use of it. She might switch her approach at different stages of her career, if not switch every other day. But why not? Of course, she also wish to get funded, get students to join her group, rasie a child, get promoted... Such is life.
</p>
<p>
I digressed. This thread of discussion is about connecting Grand Engineering Chanllenges of the Humanity and Solvable Problems in Mechanics. So many challenges. So many solvable problems. So little time (and money). The roads connecting them will surely be multiple, scenic and adventurous. I have been working in my head on posting specific ideas, and would love to see what you have to say. I have a trip coming up, still unprepared for it... Such is life.
</p>
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</ul>Thu, 08 May 2008 11:46:00 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7382 at https://imechanica.orgI like Biswajit Banerjee !
https://imechanica.org/comment/7377#comment-7377
<a id="comment-7377"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
I liked the message from <a href="http://imechanica.org/user/1095" title="View user profile.">Biswajit Banerjee</a> because I can see it was free from the usual approach scientists do.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
1) here are my ideas
</p>
<p>
2) let's read the calls for proposals around
</p>
<p>
3) let's see how I can fit my ideas in 1) to the proposals in 2)
</p>
<p>
Sometimes, it is the best scientists which do that, and of course this means not much discussion and thinking behind the entire process, about the real need for humanity. I suspect this is the limit of Michelle's approach. She had decided her own priority, could not see any in the Grand Challenges and was disappointed.
</p>
<p>
Biswajit at least made quite an effort, as his proposals do not seem to have anything in common with the topics he has in his web page. Congratulations!
</p>
<p>
So ideally, in a good Project we should NOT let a panel decide the topic, we need more (still top scientists) people to decide the topics, for as good as it may be (and the very good one means that they are not likely to work hard on this, so behind the huge level of quality there in the panel, I doubt there is much work and interaction, as witnessed by the fact that 14 themes are too many).
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
One way around that is that I can decide only 4 or 5 macroareas and then let people write possible themes. This is NOT in contrast to the work of NAE, so Michelle, Zhigang and Biswajit are welcome to contribute.
</p>
<p>
Zhigang, since my WEB Site will take about 3 weeks to be completed, why not start this discussion in imechanica? If you agree, tomorow I will post one such message.
</p>
<p>
Thanks
</p>
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</ul>Thu, 08 May 2008 02:07:56 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7377 at https://imechanica.orgGrand challenges
https://imechanica.org/comment/7368#comment-7368
<a id="comment-7368"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
First, thanks to all of you who welcomed me back to this forum. My day was brightened considerably by your messages.
</p>
<p>
After seeing Michele's latest message I went to his site and was met by the picture of Benoit Mandelbrot. I remember stealing off during the Turin ICF 11 conference to visit the Museum of Egyptiology in Turin. I wasn't the only one who had taken the day off - Mandelbrot was also there looking listlessly at the huge scrolls. I didn't have the courage to disturb the man and have a photo clicked with him :)
</p>
<p>
A few months in India have helped me reorient my view of what the grand challenges of the future are. One one hand there are the challenges for the mind involved in research for the sake of better understanding. On the other hand there are challenges facing humanity and the planet. I feel that, as mechanicians, we should keep these big challenges in mind when we try to seek problems to solve.
</p>
<p>
In my opinion, the main challenges for mankind are:
</p>
<p>
1) Food : How can we produce, preserve, and distribute food most efficiently and with the minimum of waste? The production part may involve things such as tilling (e.g., how to design a blade that can till the land with the least energy wastage). Preservation may involve the development of refridgeration systems that use heat pipes and there are many mechanics challenges in efficient drilling. Distribution involves transportation and the development of the most energy efficient infrastructure possible. These technologies may either require revolutions or steady evolution. However, the mode does not matter as long as we have a solution/s.
</p>
<p>
2) Water : How can we provide and distribute clean water efficiently? Once again, I can see a number of great mechanics challenges here - from the nanoscale to the macro scale.
</p>
<p>
3) Shelter : How can we provide cheap and energy efficient shelters to people? Once again, the solution will need a mechanics, thermodynamics, and a host of other skills.
</p>
<p>
4) Energy: Bits of this have been addressed by the NAE report.
</p>
<p>
5) Health: Once we have the first three, a signifant range of health issues will have been dealt with. Some of the rest have been addressed by NAE and previous commentators.
</p>
<p>
6) Education: Given the previous 5 items, education becomes easier to provide. Among many things that may be done, the issue that I see needs urgent action from engineers and scientists is the creation of a scientific mindset among populations around the world. Surely, that's a grand challenge?
</p>
<p>
I feel that we, as mechanicians, should keep in the back of our minds some of these grand challenges and direct our research towards contributing to solve these problems.
</p>
<p>
Surely we are imaginative enough to come up with ways to help humanity, in our own special mechanician ways?
</p>
<p>
-- Biswajit
</p>
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</ul>Wed, 07 May 2008 05:13:00 +0000Biswajit Banerjeecomment 7368 at https://imechanica.orgZhigang and Michele: what a nowhere-going discussion !!!!
https://imechanica.org/comment/7367#comment-7367
<a id="comment-7367"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Zhigang and Michelle
</p>
<p>
I cannot avoid a few remarks. The NAE challenges don't seem to raise interest, if it wasn't for you two trying to pull the discussion on your side, with Michelle who clearly would redesign completely the Challenges and, like me, thinks she could have done it better!!) but others not very interested, while Zhigang tries hard to be positive and suggest we need solvable problems.
</p>
<p>
I disagree with both! Challenges for next centuries are the cry for vision! When Leonardo planned his "grand horse" it was an impossible project. If you limit yourself to what you consider feasible, you will never achieve if not an incremental paper --- like of course 99% of scientists do, and it is only 1% of scientists who do the 99% of innovations.
</p>
<p>
But I am following closely the discussion to see how to shape my own European Challenges program. I have started to mounted the site, and the personal one is ready <a href="http://www.micheleciavarella.it">www.micheleciavarella.it</a>
</p>
<p>
I remind you my previous contributions:
</p>
<p>
Why Raul Castro can teach NAE how to appeal to the US people, and why the Engineering Challeges doesn't seem to raise interest! <a href="http://imechanica.org/node/3151 ">http://imechanica.org/node/3151 </a>
</p>
<p>
American Paradox, <a href="http://imechanica.org/node/3144">http://imechanica.org/node/3144</a><br />
<br />
I am trying to setup a Engineering Challenges project which may be with more "sex-appeal"</p>
<p> Michele <a href="http://www.micheleciavarella.it">www.micheleciavarella.it</a>
</p>
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</ul>Wed, 07 May 2008 04:17:57 +0000Mike Ciavarellacomment 7367 at https://imechanica.orgSolvable problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7352#comment-7352
<a id="comment-7352"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7349#comment-7349">Turn societal needs into solvable problems</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Zhigang, I couldn't agree more. The greatest and most disturbing element of the NAE list to me (with my clear bio-focus) is the lack of challenges that address clear and current problems with obvious engineering needs for solutions. I guess that's what they mean by "grand"!
</p>
<p>
In medicine and healthcare there are many "now" problems that require real solutions--diagnosis, treatment, prevention--and these are separate from the greater desire to obtain better understanding of living systems more generally (a la "reverse engineering the brain"). I have some difficulty seeing how and engineering approach to "advancing health informatics" is actually addressing any of the greatest needs right now--issues such as patient privacy and the sensitive nature of medical information have restricted the use of existing computing resources--the engineering aspect is not necessarily the rate-limiting step in this particular field. I would say we find this to be true quite frequently, that the technical level of engineering used to address real medical problems is below the technical level associated with the engineering state-of-the-art at any point. That does not mean that it does not require "good engineering" to address these problems, in fact, if anything the opposite is true--but it might be a question more of successful application of current technology than development of new technology.
</p>
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</ul>Tue, 06 May 2008 11:51:31 +0000MichelleLOyencomment 7352 at https://imechanica.orgTurn societal needs into solvable problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7349#comment-7349
<a id="comment-7349"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7343#comment-7343">Hilbert's Problems</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Perhaps defining significant solvable problems is itself the most challenging, and rewarding, part of innovation. A child (and a philosopher) may ask deep questions, but such questions usually do not turn into solvable problems within reasonable time. To me, the NAE list reminds us some of the significant societal needs. It is up to us to turn them into solvable problems.</p>
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</ul>Tue, 06 May 2008 11:22:08 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7349 at https://imechanica.orgHilbert's Problems
https://imechanica.org/comment/7343#comment-7343
<a id="comment-7343"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
What we need is a version of Hilbert's problems in (preferably theoretical) mechanics. My opinion is that these problems need to be well defined because I find the NAE list quite vague.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
-Amit
</p>
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</ul>Tue, 06 May 2008 03:22:40 +0000Amit.Ranadecomment 7343 at https://imechanica.orgRe: Connect Grand challenges to mechanics
https://imechanica.org/comment/7263#comment-7263
<a id="comment-7263"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/7233#comment-7233">Connect Grand challenges to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
Grand engineering challenges of the 21st century have been identified by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) (see those at <a href="http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/" target="_blank">www.engineeringchallenges.org</a>). The U.S. National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM), at its meeting of April 25-26, made it a priority to link those to the field of mechanics, both solid and fluid mechanics.
</p>
<p>
Whether the challenge is to make solar energy economical, develop carbon sequestration methods, provide access to clean water, engineer better medicines or enhance virtual reality (to name just a few), there is no doubt that mechanics is in a position to play a crucial role.
</p>
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</ul>Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:38:52 +0000Nadine Aubrycomment 7263 at https://imechanica.orgThe NAE Grand Challenges are more than just a list
https://imechanica.org/comment/7234#comment-7234
<a id="comment-7234"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/6987#comment-6987">Provide more of this lists!!</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Dear Roozbeh: The <a href="/node/2908">NAE Grand Challenges</a> are more than just a list. Each entry is described by an essay, along with references for further reading. Also, each entry has now become a forum of discussion, with a large number of comments from the international community. </p>
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</ul>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:07:59 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7234 at https://imechanica.orgConnect Grand challenges to mechanics
https://imechanica.org/comment/7233#comment-7233
<a id="comment-7233"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
The <a href="http://www7.nationalacademies.org/usnctam/Members.html">US National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics</a> (USNC/TAM) has just had its annual meeting on Friday and Saturday. Prior to the meeting, <a href="http://imechanica.org/node/3116">Ravi-Chandar suggested</a> that the Committee should discuss the <a href="/node/2908">NAE Grand Challenges</a>. It turned out that many on the committee were aware of the NAE list, and the Grand Challenges did enter our discussion prominently at several points.
</p>
<p>
Many members of the Committee felt that it is important to relate mechanics to societal challenges. Even though some of the Grand Challenges look unrelated to mechanics, and the NAE list may not please everyone, it is still significant to examine our discipline from the perspective of our customers: the society. And the NAE list can serve as a starting point.
</p>
<p>
It will not be credible for us to claim that mechanics will solve energy crisis. But no discipline can make that claim. It is entirely within our reach, however, to make a convincing case that mechanics will play a significant role in advancing energy technologies. Indeed, mechanics will play a significant role even if we do not try to make a case now.
</p>
<p>
Then why bother to make such a case? Here are some obvious reasons. The Grand Challenges will help us place our daily work in context, inspire us to be more creative, and help us recruit young people to the discipline. And of course, many of us need to write proposals for funding.
</p>
<p>
Several of us on the Committee have been tasked to think how to effect a discussion of the Grand Challenges in the broad community of mechanics. Some initial suggestions include
</p>
<ul><li>Use iMechanica to gauge interest of the community, and to collect resources compiled by related disciplines. The thread of discussion on Grand Challenges will be kept on the front page for some time.</li>
<li>At some later point, write a short document to distill the discussion, and make a case for mechanics.</li>
<li>Organize panel discussions at national conferences.</li>
</ul><p>
By now we have known something about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pasteurs-Quadrant-Science-Technological-Innovation/dp/0815781776">Pasteur's quadrant</a>, and should not fall back to yet another one dimensional thinking that only the societal needs can motivate good research. So let us not rehash the old debate about applied vs. pure research.
</p>
<p>
Let us know your thoughts on the Grand Challenges, and how you connect them to mechanics.
</p>
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</ul>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:44:00 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 7233 at https://imechanica.orgHarnessing Materials for Energy, MRS Bulletin April 2008
https://imechanica.org/comment/6988#comment-6988
<a id="comment-6988"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/comment/6962#comment-6962">Mechanics in Nano/Energy Technology</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The April 2008 issue of the MRS Bulletin is a special issue on <a href="http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/sec_subscribe.asp?TrackID=T4SPYRV95UAQ5AM5AY69ZHS8R87SG2HD&CID=10867&DID=200925">Harnessing Materials for Energy</a>. All articles in this special issue are free online.</p>
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</ul>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:47:00 +0000Zhigang Suocomment 6988 at https://imechanica.orgProvide more of this lists!!
https://imechanica.org/comment/6987#comment-6987
<a id="comment-6987"></a>
<p><em>In reply to <a href="https://imechanica.org/node/2908">Grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century, and how they relate to mechanics</a></em></p>
<div class="field field-name-comment-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>
</p>
<p>
Most of My Posts in IMechanica is Related to How we can find direction of ongoing science! Teach people (like me) how to choose their research topics! Such lists are <strong>GREAT</strong>! this help us not to forget the mission of science.
</p>
<p>
but this 3 topic are too general
</p>
<ol><li>Engineer better medicines </li>
<li>Engineer the tools of scientific discovery </li>
<li>Advance health informatics </li>
</ol><p>
This is just like to say making human life better! I hope NAE makes this missions more clear.
</p>
<p>
IMechanica is a great Forum. does any body know <strong>such</strong> Forum in Biochemistry?!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
Roozbeh Sanaei.
</p>
<p>
Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Lab.
</p>
<p>
National university of Singapore
</p>
<p>
</p>
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</ul>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:47:04 +0000Roozbeh Sanaeicomment 6987 at https://imechanica.orgError | iMechanica