On the 20th of October the Head of the international jury "Sykorskyy Talk 2016", many former Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Scientific-Technological Center (USTC) and sincere friend of our university Vik Korsun (USA) read heads for institutes and faculties KPI them. Igor Sikorsky interesting lecture "The Changing World of Education" devoted to the ways of development of higher education and science in a changing world. In it, he touched on the development and research in the "KPI after Igor Sikorsky" and potential cooperation between our scientists with researchers in other countries. Introducing attention of our readers the text of this lecture, courtesy of the author.
1.
Undoubtedly, the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Igor Sikorsky" (KPI after Igor Sikorsky) is a recognized leader in the field of technical education in Ukraine. For 5-year contest "Sikorsky Challenge", and with the establishment and Startapshkoly curriculum "technology transfer Brokerskyy" KPI after Igor Sikorsky became the leader in the preparation of Ukrainian scientists, engineers and students to under-continuity is. Congratulations.
Today I want to start a conversation about the future of the university. In the areas of development most famous universities violate the most current topics that are necessary to solve the acute problems of the modern world and its future development.
Your youth and your students - this is, obviously, is the future of Ukraine. And we need to think seriously about what additional knowledge, ability to think strategically transformed into valuable research material that will be important in the future and be relevant even 50 years or more. The knowledge that students acquire in your KPI, basic and certainly needed. However, as we have seen in our own lives, science, new knowledge and technology have advanced at a pace that was unprecedented in history.
Fundamentals of knowledge will always be of paramount importance, but even they are subject to modification and change, and they lead us to a clearer understanding of the difficulties that arise in the modern world - the elements of its creation and development over time.
I'm not a historian, but let's look at some of the stages of development of science, knowledge and technology.
Once people believed that the earth was flat and the center of the universe.
In the 15th century one deeply believing Italian Catholic was very concerned about a question of belief. By its calculations the Second coming came nearer, so it is a pity for it struck indifference of Europe to destiny of Jerusalem: to exempt it from Muslims nothing was planned. Such negligence didn't give any chance to be prepared properly for the Second coming.
With great feeling what borders on obsession, he began to make own plans of liberation of Jerusalem. Lack of means was the main obstacle. He knew that in Asia in enough and precious metals, stones, spices and so on were rather cheap. However, he wanted to purchase them there without use of so-called "silk ways" on which cheap goods were repeatedly assessed with taxes and therefore considerably rose in price and didn't make sufficient profit for a mission for liberation of Jerusalem. Italy is located far from Asia, and it, well knowing navigation, wanted to cover this distance by seas.
However astrologers and cartographers (today we would call them scientists and engineers), such as Toskanelli in Florence, claimed that the route to Asia could be overcome, floating to the west from the region of Europe.
But ardent desire of this Italian Christian to purchase means for financing of liberation of Jerusalem that it was ready to hold any straw was such.
After the titanic efforts directed to convincing rich patrons of importance and feasibility of the mission it appeared in Spain. There it at last found investors who for salvation of Jerusalem and all Christian world were ready to finance its campaign to the west. Since then in Spain our courageous devotee known as Cristobal Colon. Italian he was called Cristoforo Colombo, English it is called Hristofor Kolumbus, and other Europeans call it Christopher Columbus. In spite of the fact that all these surnames sound differently, learned the whole world about it.
The historian Pyotr Frankopan describes preparation for visit of China so: "Letters of a congratulation were prepared to the great Mongolian khan - but his name wasn't precisely known. For his name the blank space was left to enter it it is correct, he shall become an ally on release Jerusalem".
Specialists in the field of foreign languages were found. Even the Arab language which was forbidden by the law in Western Europe, was provided as it gave the chance for the best communication of Western Europe with the Far East.
So, on August 3, 1492 three ships floated to the West from the southern Spain. And at this time in Russia the hierarchy of orthodox church declared that the 1492nd year is a year of the end of world creation, that is doomsday.
Columbus didn't find either gold, or jewelry, or spices which as he hoped, could become a financial basis of liberation of Jerusalem. Besides, the queen Isabella and the king of Spain Ferdinand were very disappointed with Columbus's efforts. They expected that these expected riches quickly will become readily available.
But this dream of wealth were fulfilled some decades later, after Isabella, Ferdinand, and Columbus's death. Only then treasures of the American continent began to flow towards Spain and made Spain the rich country in the world.
So, Columbus didn't achieve the objectives - the Christianity didn't free Jerusalem, and believers forgot to prepare themselves for the Second coming. However its swimming through the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and also campaigns of researchers, floated around the southernmost tip of Africa and found a sea lane to the east to India and China - these events mattered phenomenal for determination of the center of influence in the world and for distribution of wealth and the power. Europe, had no self-produced, long time was considered as a final point of trade in magnificent goods, faced from the East to the west, exactly this Europe already shall become the main center of influence in the world.
It was more, than just accumulating of wealth. It was demonstration of new energy, creativity and courage, expansion of an outlook and our understanding of the world. It was demonstration of new confidence and a combination of courage with rectilinear to an initiative; this allegedly the periphery undertook the right to reinterpret conditions of human interaction, the ideas and culture.
Europe was delighted with Columbus's opening, and this generated impulse continued to grow. So, initial the objectives weren't achieved, but the triumph of other sort took place. In several centuries Adam Smith in the book "Wealth of the People" declared that "discovery of America across the ocean and also a new way to India are the largest and major events in the history of mankind".
For more than 400 years after discover of Columbus of this kind the researcher was concerned absolutely by another from Columbus a problem. In the scientific research Albert Einstein came to a conclusion that there is a contradiction between laws of physics (the first publication - 1687) Isaac Newton and the equations for James Clerc Maxwell's electromagnetism which were published in the middle of the 19th century, in 200 years after Newton.
He declared that their opposite conclusions concerning light and the speed of its movement in various conditions can't coexist. It is necessary to prove, something one of them is right, or both are wrong. After ten years' consideration and extreme disappointment, it is already almost ready to refuse, Einstein could make the decision on availability of a contradiction. The decision it came to it as impressing flash of understanding: now it was capable to accept Maxwell's equations and to understand why. At the same time he shall reject laws which throughout many centuries lay in the base of physics and which explained and Isaac Newton proved a science ear.
As well as all real scientists, Einstein didn't give in to magic of reputations of other scientists, even Newton, but nevertheless when he wrote the memoirs, felt the need to remember the great predecessor and to definitely connect own opening with Newton's works: "Newton, excuse to me. You found the only way which, at that time, had unique for the person a high opinion and creative force".
Einstein's opening differed from Columbus's opening, they were carried out absolutely differently and with absolutely different purposes. However they were similar in the innovation.
Columbus's opening was led to expansion of an outlook material, visible here, on Earth.
Einstein's opening happened existence of invisible reality. With its help it is possible to understand laws of the visible world. Thus Einstein also opened the new horizons for prospects of which it was impossible and to dream earlier.
I decided to give these two examples as vertex opening, because they show how varied are the possible ways that lead to discoveries, and what different can be the reasons that lead the initiative to seek higher truths, and opening wider horizons of opportunities for human development.
These examples also show how perceived achieved even nedosyahnuti goals difference and reflect their roles at different times.
Columbus wanted to liberate Jerusalem, but had to be content with the fact that still generous discovered unknown territory on the planet.
Einstein, on the other hand, tried to resolve the contradictions in understanding how light, time, distance and matter interact. He really got what he was looking for, and it became known as the theory of relativity. Was he happy? Probably so. But we know that Einstein never stayed there, but still wanted to distribute to the public good of mankind.
Even outside of science, Einstein tried to authoritatively guide treasures scientific discovery towards humanitarian purposes and exclude a destruction of their human values.
Einstein did not find something that could be seen or verify empirically, and his work was met, of course, with great skepticism. But at the same time and with excitement, as several progressive-minded scientists recognized the importance of this discovery.
If Einstein's theory proved to be correct, it would open up research horizons and opened to further secret mysteries of our universe. These new knowledge discovered the incredible breadth of opportunities for understanding and wonders and beauty of the universe in which we live.
We see that opening motivated in different ways and that their results lead us in different directions. In the following, we are trying to go, but sometimes such that we hardly expected.
With examples of research that I have just described, we see that science is not static - it rejects the misconceptions and opens new horizons and opportunities. We can not know exactly what the future will require us, but we must be ready and set up, and more and more we have a creative approach to our research.
Yes, we need skills in specific areas, but we can not stop there. In addition, we must be prepared for, say, "cross-pollination" - that carry out scientific and practical enrichment of our new approaches, communications and conclusions.
When designing field research, we must ask ourselves how to send our students to the most productivity for 20, 30, 50 years. I look at the bigger picture, which includes not only scientists, engineers and industrialists, but also government officials and administrators, farmers and workers, generals and soldiers, along with writers, architects, composers and artists.
And we must never forget the most important and the most important resources of human civilization - physical, emotional and intellectual status and well-being of our children and their parents, our young people and their teachers - that never leave unattended, and that can never be neglected.
Here, of course, I will focus on topics that should be of interest to all of you in the CPI.
I recently had the privilege to attend the 50th anniversary of the release of my alma mater - the University of Pennsylvania, which is one of the leading universities in the United States. Various programs have been prepared for us to be acquainted with the progress and proud of it.
In our time we have trained and taught the basics very well, but now I and my fellow students see that students learn aspects of science and technology that we barely understand, and its time for them even dreamed of.
We were told today that the university pays more and more attention to the wide range of future problems. The University aims to educate students in the direction of their creative abilities - not to dwell on the immediate specialization, and to explore and combine different possibilities, including the development of research on the planet and beyond.
Here are some courses that students can choose in today's American universities.
- Neuro-Systems and Visual Processing
- Biologically Inspired Engineering
- Membrane Biology and Bio-Physics Engineering
- Bio-Sensors and Imaging
- Mechanics and Cellular Systems
- Bio-Informatics
- Bio-Image Informatics
- Bio-Ethics
- Environment and Nano-Technology
- Geo-Engineering
- Next Manufacturing
- Innovations in Teaching Excellence and Learning
In psychology, we see a relatively new development. Founder and ardent supporter of what became known as "positive psychology," is Professor (Dr.) Martin EP Seligman. His perseverance and energy led first to the creation of the International Association of Positive Psychology, and then, in 2013 - the foundation of Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, which he headed.
The mission of the Center:
- Promote research,
- Training,
- The development of education and dissemination of positive psychology,
- Education of stability and self-confidence - a new concept in psychology
I find it very interesting because it is the exaltation of the human sense of purpose and a sense of fulfillment in life. This is very important.
You can describe positive psychology as the scientific study of human strength and qualities that enable individuals and communities to thrive. This activity is based on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling life, developing what is best for themselves, and to increase a sense of satisfaction in the areas of love, their work and their leisure.
Since courses such as "Introduction to Positive Psychology" and "Applied Psychology", students of all ages involved in intense interactive tasks that develop their real inspiration and build strength. This work is carried out to the skills specific ways of thinking, habits and qualities that are so necessary in search of happiness.
To change the old mentality in the US and still requires great effort. The list of courses of 95-year you will not find any of the above courses. And now we are already seeing new subclasses of researches in biology and other sciences.
In order to be at the forefront of new knowledge and remain competitive among other universities, University of Pennsylvania looks and welcome new professors from around the country and from other countries. I'll tell you only about three new professors who were teaching at the University for the past 4 years.
Two of them joined evolutionary innovation cluster for interdisciplinary research, looking for understanding evolutionary processes in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and even in computational mathematics. New teachers can only join if they are willing to work together with other departments of the university. That's where the future takes us.
I'll give you three examples of professors at the University of Pennsylvania, whose work may be of interest to KPI.
- Professor Dongven Gyu, who came from the Harvard Institute for Biologically inspired engineering and previously worked at the Korean National University of Medicine.
- Professor Erol Aksai - an evolutionary biologist at the cluster of "Ph.D." from Stanford University.
- Professor Alison Sweeney, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy "Ph.D." of Duke University, is now an evolutionary biologist with a degree in marine biology.
Professor Gyu Dongven is a fascinating dream that leads him in his work: he wants to create a human body on a chip.
In human lung contains 700 million alveoli - they consume oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The device is a Professor Gyu one alveolar air bag, which is on the chip.
"Lungs" expands and shrinks under pressure, simulating mechanical movement of breath. It simulates its behavior directly in the body, but not in the petri dish.
You would think that Professor Gyu interested in the processes of respiration, but it is not. He is working on determining the effect of drugs on humans, that the scope of his interests - Toxicology.
Why? Because the 12 largest pharmaceutical companies over the past 12 years spent about $ 12 billion to try and study risks. But not always these tests and studies were successful.
Clinical trials in humans is the most expensive part of the process. This, unfortunately, 85% of clinical trials fail. They are not successful because preclinical testing rely on research "in vitro" and the experiments carried out on animals. But in traditional animal testing is not considered toxic drug that test.
Therefore, it is necessary to study "in vitro" human material, the most similar to the human tissue that requires treatment.
Using the "organs on chips" is superior to using classical methods such as the study of tissues "in vitro" and animal testing. Need a real human tissue that serves as the possible as it does in our body.
In the short time that Professor Gyu was at the University of Pennsylvania, he developed such "organs on chips": skin, placenta, uterus and cervix eye that cries and flashes. "Bodies on chips" necessary to assist pharmaceutical companies in the trials of promising new drugs.
But that's not all that makes Professor Gyu. In addition to creating micro-engineering models of human organs, Professor Gyu also conducts research in biomimecry in a symbiotic relationship algae and giant clams.
Professor Erol Akcey began teaching at the University of Pennsylvania two years ago. It is a biological theorist game. He wondered how there is difficulty in the process of evolution, and he believes that cooperative game theory is a useful tool for biology. This theory has been applied to the economy, why not apply it to biology?
His model attempts to explain the symbiotic relationship between legumes and soil bacteria that help plants to fix nitrogen through the "biochemical negotiations" and "vegetable sanctions" in the root nodules where bacteria take root.
The researchers, which include more Taiwanese professor and professor at Stanford University, argue that Darwin's theory of sexual selection should be replaced by game theory, which focuses on cooperative and dynamics in the negotiations and side payments. In other words, focus on deconstruction Darwinian selfishness.
It also works with a professor from the Max Planck Institute. Together they engaged in chemical ecology to study the relationship between process of three-sided ants, worms and Spanish elm.
In a University of Pennsylvania professor Aksey joined the working group of social and cultural evolution. This group is headed by professor of linguistics.
I hope you understand what is at stake: the biology, evolution, game theory, negotiations, sanctions, sexual selection, cooperative dynamics, bargaining, selfishness, environment, society and even linguistics. Today is not the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied 50 years ago!
Research in these scientific fields can lead to great discoveries and major awards in applied science and the like. And if not this, then surely other discoveries.
Third, our professor (as an example) - a professor of physics and biology astronomy Alison Sweeney. It studies the biophysics camouflage squid - how to manipulate light waves that in clear water could hide from predators.
Digging deeper into the field, she found that giant clams do well, generating bright, very bright, psychedelic colors that defy description. However, these giant clams do not use these bright colors for alarm or hide. They act as an electrical transformer, the transformer but instead to produce electric-power In this - Transformer for light! Why is this so? Professor Sweeney has found the key to this particular mussels in marine algae living in symbiosis with giant clams.
Algae require sunlight for photosynthesis, but too much direct sunlight tropical endangers algae. Thus, algae act as an electrical transformer. Algae take wavelengths of sunlight that suits them for photosynthesis, at the same time as the other wavelengths dispersed harmless - they take shellfish. This process provides a magnificent giant clam psyhode been visible, colorful look. Thus, the algae remain "happy" and giant clams are also getting something back - the energy, many nutrients are produced by algae.
Can this new phase of knowledge to bring to the use of algae for biofuels? That's an interesting question!
4.
Some conclusions - short list
Questioning
- You want to or not - before you are big responsibilities.
- Do you want to stay competitive in science?
If so, you need to do?
Financing
- Do you need finance to start building own campaign help Jerusalem on Ukrainian soil?
- Create a detailed list of where these finances could be found, and how to win.
Start a program of mutual relations
- Between you and other educational and research institutions.
- Between you and other countries.
- The strategy will build cooperation with other educational institutions and other creative leaders in their respective scientific fields.
- Create a list of your professors that you could offer to teach a year in other international universities.
How to prepare yourself?
- Look at your own and international leaders to find their inspiration for new achievements.
- Look at yourself, consider yourself or burning in your eyes desire to work, to create, to achieve. If so, then people will want to work with you, and if not, teach yourself strike fire that spark of desire.
- Show your love for science and interest in multidisciplinary researches and discoveries.
- Demonstrate respect for other countries, communities and cultures of the world.
Understand: the future will not wait for you, and therefore you do not wait for the future.
So I repeat: do not wait for you future.
Do not wait for you future and become one!