[Applause] [Music]
what’s the point I spent the past 20
what’s the point I spent the past 20 years of my career as a scientist having
years of my career as a scientist having
years of my career as a scientist having people asking me this question what’s
people asking me this question what’s
people asking me this question what’s the point of studying the embryonic
the point of studying the embryonic
the point of studying the embryonic development of this were there any kind
development of this were there any kind
development of this were there any kind of application for this research well
of application for this research well
of application for this research well when I know that we’re studying a very
when I know that we’re studying a very
when I know that we’re studying a very important problem in biology I have to
important problem in biology I have to
important problem in biology I have to admit that I have no way of knowing what
admit that I have no way of knowing what
admit that I have no way of knowing what will be the applications of my research
will be the applications of my research
will be the applications of my research in ten or even twenty years from now and
in ten or even twenty years from now and
in ten or even twenty years from now and this is completely normal
this is completely normal
this is completely normal this is by definition what fundamental
this is by definition what fundamental
this is by definition what fundamental research is a research without clear
research is a research without clear
research is a research without clear application a research for the only sake
application a research for the only sake
application a research for the only sake of increasing human knowledge so now I
of increasing human knowledge so now I
of increasing human knowledge so now I know that most of you in this room still
know that most of you in this room still
know that most of you in this room still don’t get the point and you probably
don’t get the point and you probably
don’t get the point and you probably also say that I’m spending a lot of
also say that I’m spending a lot of
also say that I’m spending a lot of money doing something that is completely
money doing something that is completely
money doing something that is completely useless and I can tell you you’re not
useless and I can tell you you’re not
useless and I can tell you you’re not the only one thinking that another
the only one thinking that another
the only one thinking that another reason why fundamental research in great
reason why fundamental research in great
reason why fundamental research in great danger today so let me try to convince
danger today so let me try to convince
danger today so let me try to convince you that fundamental research is worth
you that fundamental research is worth
you that fundamental research is worth fighting for and to explain you how we
fighting for and to explain you how we
fighting for and to explain you how we could possibly save it so I know this is
could possibly save it so I know this is
could possibly save it so I know this is an obscene concept in our society
an obscene concept in our society
an obscene concept in our society spending money on something without
spending money on something without
spending money on something without clear application and I’m sure you
clear application and I’m sure you
clear application and I’m sure you probably think that with much more
probably think that with much more
probably think that with much more important things to do with that money
important things to do with that money
important things to do with that money and you probably right except that you
and you probably right except that you
and you probably right except that you have to consider that our entire
have to consider that our entire
have to consider that our entire technology and our entire civilization
technology and our entire civilization
technology and our entire civilization is built on innovation made by
is built on innovation made by
is built on innovation made by scientists that were swimming in the
scientists that were swimming in the
scientists that were swimming in the dark at whoever searched for something
dark at whoever searched for something
dark at whoever searched for something on the internet or walking in the street
on the internet or walking in the street
on the internet or walking in the street that you consider to be very important
that you consider to be very important
that you consider to be very important and ended up finding something complete
and ended up finding something complete
and ended up finding something complete different and far more interesting this
different and far more interesting this
different and far more interesting this is happening all the time
is happening all the time
is happening all the time when you’re doing fundamental research
when you’re doing fundamental research
when you’re doing fundamental research and that’s the reason why we cannot
and that’s the reason why we cannot
and that’s the reason why we cannot predict the the application of our
predict the the application of our
predict the the application of our research let me give you an example
research let me give you an example
research let me give you an example you probably heard a few months ago
you probably heard a few months ago
you probably heard a few months ago about the two first human embryos that
about the two first human embryos that
about the two first human embryos that got their genome edited this major
got their genome edited this major
got their genome edited this major breakthrough is opening the door to the
breakthrough is opening the door to the
breakthrough is opening the door to the end of several genetic diseases doctor
end of several genetic diseases doctor
end of several genetic diseases doctor dude nonchalantly the two scientists who
dude nonchalantly the two scientists who
dude nonchalantly the two scientists who discovered the Casman CRISPR technology
discovered the Casman CRISPR technology
discovered the Casman CRISPR technology made this long-term dream a reality what
made this long-term dream a reality what
made this long-term dream a reality what is fascinating about these discoveries
is fascinating about these discoveries
is fascinating about these discoveries that they were not looking for genomic
that they were not looking for genomic
that they were not looking for genomic technology at all instead they were
technology at all instead they were
technology at all instead they were trying to understand our bacteria we’re
trying to understand our bacteria we’re
trying to understand our bacteria we’re dealing with their viruses
dealing with their viruses
dealing with their viruses not even close another example that will
not even close another example that will
not even close another example that will show you how unpredictable or the
show you how unpredictable or the
show you how unpredictable or the application of fundamental research
application of fundamental research
application of fundamental research you might recognize this gentleman a
you might recognize this gentleman a
you might recognize this gentleman a general relativity theory published by
general relativity theory published by
general relativity theory published by Herbert n Stein 100 years ago stated
Herbert n Stein 100 years ago stated
Herbert n Stein 100 years ago stated that space and time were linked and that
that space and time were linked and that
that space and time were linked and that they were relative one to another
they were relative one to another
they were relative one to another these discovery revolutionized our
these discovery revolutionized our
these discovery revolutionized our understanding of universe and gravity
understanding of universe and gravity
understanding of universe and gravity and this is as fundamental as a research
and this is as fundamental as a research
and this is as fundamental as a research can possibly be
can possibly be
can possibly be it is only 80 years later that this
it is only 80 years later that this
it is only 80 years later that this theory found its practical application
theory found its practical application
theory found its practical application that changed our day to day life with
that changed our day to day life with
that changed our day to day life with the global positioning system also
the global positioning system also
the global positioning system also called
called
called GPS of course 100 years ago Google map
GPS of course 100 years ago Google map
GPS of course 100 years ago Google map didn’t exist right and there was no way
didn’t exist right and there was no way
didn’t exist right and there was no way instant could have been even envisioned
instant could have been even envisioned
instant could have been even envisioned the application of the theory so now if
the application of the theory so now if
the application of the theory so now if GPS will be the only one in this
GPS will be the only one in this
GPS will be the only one in this situation the only technology in this
situation the only technology in this
situation the only technology in this situation I will call you call it an
situation I will call you call it an
situation I will call you call it an exception but do you know that every
exception but do you know that every
exception but do you know that every piece of technology and every treatment
piece of technology and every treatment
piece of technology and every treatment you’re using on a daily basis have their
you’re using on a daily basis have their
you’re using on a daily basis have their roots in fundamental research because we
roots in fundamental research because we
roots in fundamental research because we cannot build or repair something we
cannot build or repair something we
cannot build or repair something we don’t understand and the purpose of
don’t understand and the purpose of
don’t understand and the purpose of fundamental research is to understand
fundamental research is to understand
fundamental research is to understand how the structure of things and how they
how the structure of things and how they
how the structure of things and how they function so now my next question is
function so now my next question is
function so now my next question is would you live without the next
would you live without the next
would you live without the next technology that will cure cancer
technology that will cure cancer
technology that will cure cancer Alzheimer or will make your life way
Alzheimer or will make your life way
Alzheimer or will make your life way easier because you’re answering yes to
easier because you’re answering yes to
easier because you’re answering yes to this question if you consider that we
this question if you consider that we
this question if you consider that we have more important things to do with
have more important things to do with
have more important things to do with our money than funding from the mental
our money than funding from the mental
our money than funding from the mental research now that I hope I convinced you
research now that I hope I convinced you
research now that I hope I convinced you the fundamental research is not only
the fundamental research is not only
the fundamental research is not only important but is fundamental for the
important but is fundamental for the
important but is fundamental for the advancement of our civilization let’s
advancement of our civilization let’s
advancement of our civilization let’s talk about this graph
talk about this graph
talk about this graph I hope this graph represent the decline
I hope this graph represent the decline
I hope this graph represent the decline of obscurantism but unfortunately that’s
of obscurantism but unfortunately that’s
of obscurantism but unfortunately that’s not the case this graph represents the
not the case this graph represents the
not the case this graph represents the drop in u.s. funding from fundamental
drop in u.s. funding from fundamental
drop in u.s. funding from fundamental research from the 60s to today and
research from the 60s to today and
research from the 60s to today and always amazed by this catastrophic drop
always amazed by this catastrophic drop
always amazed by this catastrophic drop if we look at this graph we can expect
if we look at this graph we can expect
if we look at this graph we can expect that the next generation will see the
that the next generation will see the
that the next generation will see the extinction of fundamental research if we
extinction of fundamental research if we
extinction of fundamental research if we cross this blue line and I’m afraid that
cross this blue line and I’m afraid that
cross this blue line and I’m afraid that we’ll still be alive at that time n
we’ll still be alive at that time n
we’ll still be alive at that time n Stein will become a dinosaur if we cross
Stein will become a dinosaur if we cross
Stein will become a dinosaur if we cross this blue line the next generation will
this blue line the next generation will
this blue line the next generation will live in a world where everything that
live in a world where everything that
live in a world where everything that define human knowledge will not exist
define human knowledge will not exist
define human knowledge will not exist anymore could you believe this so how
anymore could you believe this so how
anymore could you believe this so how could we avoid this it’s very simple
could we avoid this it’s very simple
could we avoid this it’s very simple we need more cash to fund fundamental
we need more cash to fund fundamental
we need more cash to fund fundamental research that’s it very simple but very
research that’s it very simple but very
research that’s it very simple but very complicated at the same time a lot of
complicated at the same time a lot of
complicated at the same time a lot of petition have been sent to University
petition have been sent to University
petition have been sent to University Provost media ministers of every
Provost media ministers of every
Provost media ministers of every countries for a very long time with very
countries for a very long time with very
countries for a very long time with very minimal impact we have no choice to
minimal impact we have no choice to
minimal impact we have no choice to admit now that government do not
admit now that government do not
admit now that government do not consider funding fundamental research as
consider funding fundamental research as
consider funding fundamental research as important enough so what could we do
important enough so what could we do
important enough so what could we do there year I would like to explore with
there year I would like to explore with
there year I would like to explore with you today is why not having the industry
you today is why not having the industry
you today is why not having the industry more involved in funding for them into
more involved in funding for them into
more involved in funding for them into research and this idea is in line with
research and this idea is in line with
research and this idea is in line with the news we hear these days about big
the news we hear these days about big
the news we hear these days about big companies investing in research
companies investing in research
companies investing in research particularly not official intelligence
particularly not official intelligence
particularly not official intelligence in Montreal this year so now let me show
in Montreal this year so now let me show
in Montreal this year so now let me show you our startup can also contribute to
you our startup can also contribute to
you our startup can also contribute to found fundamental research by giving you
found fundamental research by giving you
found fundamental research by giving you as an example the company I created with
as an example the company I created with
as an example the company I created with my two co-founders Michael and Abdul I
my two co-founders Michael and Abdul I
my two co-founders Michael and Abdul I we tailored our company so that we can
we tailored our company so that we can
we tailored our company so that we can answer a real need to the society
answer a real need to the society
answer a real need to the society generate revenue to of course promote
generate revenue to of course promote
generate revenue to of course promote our growth of the company and found
our growth of the company and found
our growth of the company and found fundamental research at the same time
fundamental research at the same time
fundamental research at the same time our idea was to extract a commercial
our idea was to extract a commercial
our idea was to extract a commercial value from something every scientist
value from something every scientist
value from something every scientist create during their career their
create during their career their
create during their career their expertise it could be an expertise in
expertise it could be an expertise in
expertise it could be an expertise in interpreting microscopy imaging is
interpreting microscopy imaging is
interpreting microscopy imaging is setting the right parameter for a very
setting the right parameter for a very
setting the right parameter for a very specific
specific
specific it could be expertise in data analysis
it could be expertise in data analysis
it could be expertise in data analysis most of this expertise is extremely
most of this expertise is extremely
most of this expertise is extremely valuable for other scientists and is
valuable for other scientists and is
valuable for other scientists and is most of the time impossible to transmit
most of the time impossible to transmit
most of the time impossible to transmit through scientific articles usually you
through scientific articles usually you
through scientific articles usually you need to have a student coming to your
need to have a student coming to your
need to have a student coming to your lab for 3-4 years to transmit this
lab for 3-4 years to transmit this
lab for 3-4 years to transmit this expertise so how could we capture this
expertise so how could we capture this
expertise so how could we capture this expertise and sell it you probably heard
expertise and sell it you probably heard
expertise and sell it you probably heard that artificial intelligence is the end
that artificial intelligence is the end
that artificial intelligence is the end of your job is the end of schools with
of your job is the end of schools with
of your job is the end of schools with actual human teachers and even that
actual human teachers and even that
actual human teachers and even that robot will start killing people in the
robot will start killing people in the
robot will start killing people in the streets let’s be serious have you ever
streets let’s be serious have you ever
streets let’s be serious have you ever considered that AI may have a positive
considered that AI may have a positive
considered that AI may have a positive impact on our society the technology is
impact on our society the technology is
impact on our society the technology is advanced enough today so that an AI can
advanced enough today so that an AI can
advanced enough today so that an AI can learn very specific skills for several
learn very specific skills for several
learn very specific skills for several professionals and this is why it is so
professionals and this is why it is so
professionals and this is why it is so scary
scary
scary we’re afraid to be replaced so now why
we’re afraid to be replaced so now why
we’re afraid to be replaced so now why not using this AI to capture the
not using this AI to capture the
not using this AI to capture the expertise of scientists and create a
expertise of scientists and create a
expertise of scientists and create a value that didn’t exist before
value that didn’t exist before
value that didn’t exist before ai arrived in our life if we can sit
ai arrived in our life if we can sit
ai arrived in our life if we can sit down and observe scientists setting
down and observe scientists setting
down and observe scientists setting parameter for variants for very specific
parameter for variants for very specific
parameter for variants for very specific experiments then we can create a data
experiments then we can create a data
experiments then we can create a data set to train an AI after training this
set to train an AI after training this
set to train an AI after training this year we’ll be able to set appropriately
year we’ll be able to set appropriately
year we’ll be able to set appropriately the parameter for this group of
the parameter for this group of
the parameter for this group of experiment but it will be able to do
experiment but it will be able to do
experiment but it will be able to do that in every research lab all around
that in every research lab all around
that in every research lab all around the world so why not then creating
the world so why not then creating
the world so why not then creating revenue from the utilization of this AI
revenue from the utilization of this AI
revenue from the utilization of this AI and use that money to fund fundamental
and use that money to fund fundamental
and use that money to fund fundamental research this is the with this idea in
research this is the with this idea in
research this is the with this idea in head that we created our first AI
head that we created our first AI
head that we created our first AI powered platform that capture the
powered platform that capture the
powered platform that capture the expertise of a group of scientists that
expertise of a group of scientists that
expertise of a group of scientists that we call bioinformaticians and who are
we call bioinformaticians and who are
we call bioinformaticians and who are who are computer scientists using very
who are computer scientists using very
who are computer scientists using very complicated algorithm to analyze human
complicated algorithm to analyze human
complicated algorithm to analyze human genomes and sell this expertise to
genomes and sell this expertise to
genomes and sell this expertise to the scientists called life scientists
the scientists called life scientists
the scientists called life scientists allowing them to boost their research so
allowing them to boost their research so
allowing them to boost their research so now this is our solution using
now this is our solution using
now this is our solution using technology to create a value from the
technology to create a value from the
technology to create a value from the world of research to fund research and
world of research to fund research and
world of research to fund research and my point here today is not to say that
my point here today is not to say that
my point here today is not to say that we found the ultimate solution that will
we found the ultimate solution that will
we found the ultimate solution that will save fundamental research from
save fundamental research from
save fundamental research from extinction my point today is the
extinction my point today is the
extinction my point today is the survival of fundamental research may
survival of fundamental research may
survival of fundamental research may depend on industrial initiatives going
depend on industrial initiatives going
depend on industrial initiatives going in this direction so that we never cross
in this direction so that we never cross
in this direction so that we never cross this line and we keep improving our
this line and we keep improving our
this line and we keep improving our healthcare system and our quality of
healthcare system and our quality of
healthcare system and our quality of life so I hope I convince you today that
life so I hope I convince you today that
life so I hope I convince you today that letting fundamental research becoming a
letting fundamental research becoming a
letting fundamental research becoming a human activity of the past is not
human activity of the past is not
human activity of the past is not something that we want to be considered
something that we want to be considered
something that we want to be considered by the present or the next generation I
by the present or the next generation I
by the present or the next generation I deeply hope that more and more
deeply hope that more and more
deeply hope that more and more entrepreneurs will consider founding
entrepreneurs will consider founding
entrepreneurs will consider founding fundamental research that you will
fundamental research that you will
fundamental research that you will consider using technology not only to
consider using technology not only to
consider using technology not only to build something new or practical or to
build something new or practical or to
build something new or practical or to become rich but also to support the
become rich but also to support the
become rich but also to support the research for the only sake of increasing
research for the only sake of increasing
research for the only sake of increasing human knowledge because the promotion of
human knowledge because the promotion of
human knowledge because the promotion of human knowledge is not the
human knowledge is not the
human knowledge is not the responsibility of government alone it is
responsibility of government alone it is
responsibility of government alone it is my responsibility it is your
my responsibility it is your
my responsibility it is your responsibility it is the responsibility
responsibility it is the responsibility
responsibility it is the responsibility of each and every one of us thank you
of each and every one of us thank you
of each and every one of us thank you [Applause]
”
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