Theoretical and technological building blocks for an innovation accelerator

The scientific system that we use today was devised centuries ago and is inadequate for our current ICT-based society: the peer review system encourages conservatism, journal publications are monolithic and slow, data is often not available to other scientists, and the independent validation of results is limited. Building on the Innovation Accelerator paper by Helbing and Balietti (2011) this paper takes the initial global vision and reviews the theoretical and technological building blocks that can be used for implementing an innovation (in first place: science) accelerator platform driven by re-imagining the science system. The envisioned platform would rest on four pillars: (i) Redesign the incentive scheme to reduce behavior such as conservatism, herding and hyping; (ii) Advance scientific publications by breaking up the monolithic paper unit and introducing other building blocks such as data, tools, experiment workflows, resources; (iii) Use machine readable semantics for publications, debate structures, provenance etc. in order to include the computer as a partner in the scientific process, and (iv) Build an online platform for collaboration, including a network of trust and reputation among the different types of stakeholders in the scientific system: scientists, educators, funding agencies, policy makers, students and industrial innovators among others. Any such improvements to the scientific system must support the entire scientific process (unlike current tools that chop up the scientific process into disconnected pieces), must facilitate and encourage collaboration and interdisciplinarity (again unlike current tools), must facilitate the inclusion of intelligent computing in the scientific process, must facilitate not only the core scientific process, but also accommodate other stakeholders such science policy makers, industrial innovators, and the general public

A contribution towards a methodology for university public funding

Following a system of indicators, a public funding methodology for the universities is proposed. This methodology is based on a formula and lies on the principle of differentiating universities amongst themselves according to the indicators previously defined. These indicators were developed in order to promote academic excellence in terms of the current understanding of the mission of the university. The result is a funding methodology aiming at leading the university to the prominent role that is required in the emerging knowledge-based economies and societies

The Future of Democracy: Challenges & Prospects

Unprecedented speed, interconnectivity, complexity and uncertainty are impacting all spheres of global society today, presenting challenges that were not foreseen even a few years ago. The end of the Cold War was interpreted by many as the final victory for democracy and capitalism over authoritarian socialism. A quarter century after the sudden collapse of communism and the emergence of a new democratic consensus, liberal democracy itself is under threat. Former bastions of democracy are exhibiting a level of populism and polarization previously associated only with nascent, tenuous democracies in countries with low levels of education and economic development. The shared vision that constituted the foundation for the democratic consensus is breaking down. Doubts, fears and insecurity have shaken faith in the institutions of governance and the confidence of youth in a better future. Nations are closing their borders, retreating from global cooperation, and casting the blame on minorities and foreigners in a manner reminiscent of an earlier century. Participants in the WAAS Roundtable on the Future of Democracy at Dubrovnik on April 3-5, 2018 recognized that this shift in direction is the result of a complex nexus of forces that have been shaping the future for decades. The group shared valuable insights into our present dilemma while maintaining the diversity of perspective essential for understanding a complex, multidimensional global phenomenon still in the process of unfolding. The discussion identified numerous practical steps that can be taken to moderate extreme aberrations resulting from the misuse of social power. It also recognized that fundamental changes are needed to develop more effective systems of governance capable of fully supporting the aspirations of humanity, maximizing the equity and effectiveness of social institutions and the future evolution of global society

Sustentabilidade de unidades de produção agrícola no Distrito de Barão Geraldo.

Este trabalho buscou avaliar e caracterizar agroecossistemas no Distrito de Barão Geraldo (BG), em Campinas (SP). Foram pesquisadas 50 unidades de produção agrícola. Observou-se a predominância da agricultura convencional em mini e pequenas propriedades, voltadas ao cultivo de hortaliças, frutos e flores, com comercialização no mercado local. A maioria dos agricultores expressou interesse em uma associação local para a articulação dos produtores visando melhorar as condições de produção, preço e acesso ao mercado, todavia, não há nenhuma iniciativa de organização. Os pontos críticos para a manutenção da agricultura no Distrito são decorrentes do processo de urbanização e da adoção de tecnologias inapropriadas, oriundas do sistema agrícola convencional. A falta de políticas públicas efetivas para a promoção do desenvolvimento de um modelo de agricultura sustentável para BG coloca em risco a manutenção de uma área importante para o município como parte do cinturão verde e como mantenedora de recursos naturais

Nota sobre surto de malária em usuários de drogas injetáveis Note on the malaria outbreak in users of injectable drugs

Relata-se surto de malária por Plasmodium vivax entre usuários de drogas injetáveis, detectado na cidade de Bauru, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Até julho de 1989 12 casos haviam sido confirmados pelo exame de gota espessa, e 20 outros contactantes suspeitos estavam sendo investigados. Todos os casos relataram uso freqüente de cocaína injetável, compartilhando seringas e agulhas, e negaram viagens por áreas endêmicas de malária.<br>An outbreak of Plasmodium vivax malaria among drug addicts in Bauru, S. Paulo State, Brazil, is reported. Until July 1989,12 cases had been confirmed by thick smear examinations and 20 contacts were being investigated. All of them reported frequent use of intravenous cocaine and sharing of needles and syringes but deny having travelled through endemic malarial areas