well good morning everyone it’s really exciting to be here this morning now my
exciting to be here this morning now my
exciting to be here this morning now my name is Jorge and I am a neuroscientist
name is Jorge and I am a neuroscientist
name is Jorge and I am a neuroscientist and I’ve spent the last 20 years of my
and I’ve spent the last 20 years of my
and I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life studying an enigmatic disease at
life studying an enigmatic disease at
life studying an enigmatic disease at the brain known as Parkinson’s disease
the brain known as Parkinson’s disease
the brain known as Parkinson’s disease I’ll tell you a little bit more about
I’ll tell you a little bit more about
I’ll tell you a little bit more about that later but as a scientist I’m
that later but as a scientist I’m
that later but as a scientist I’m engaged in thinking about complex
engaged in thinking about complex
engaged in thinking about complex problems and in training next generation
problems and in training next generation
problems and in training next generation of scientists to do just the same and
of scientists to do just the same and
of scientists to do just the same and it’s from this that I got the idea for
it’s from this that I got the idea for
it’s from this that I got the idea for my talk today we must get high five what
my talk today we must get high five what
my talk today we must get high five what do I mean you may have heard of the
do I mean you may have heard of the
do I mean you may have heard of the terms multidisciplinary learning or even
terms multidisciplinary learning or even
terms multidisciplinary learning or even interdisciplinary learning in order to
interdisciplinary learning in order to
interdisciplinary learning in order to solve a problem well my idea is that we
solve a problem well my idea is that we
solve a problem well my idea is that we need a new way of learning which I call
need a new way of learning which I call
need a new way of learning which I call hyper disciplinary learning this
hyper disciplinary learning this
hyper disciplinary learning this reconciles the explosion of data that
reconciles the explosion of data that
reconciles the explosion of data that exists in our current age with the idea
exists in our current age with the idea
exists in our current age with the idea that we still need a very broad and
that we still need a very broad and
that we still need a very broad and comprehensive knowledge base to give us
comprehensive knowledge base to give us
comprehensive knowledge base to give us the scope for innovative solutions to
the scope for innovative solutions to
the scope for innovative solutions to complex problems let me explain a little
complex problems let me explain a little
complex problems let me explain a little more
more
more we humans are unique this is because we
we humans are unique this is because we
we humans are unique this is because we have a capacity for abstract thought and
have a capacity for abstract thought and
have a capacity for abstract thought and ability to analyze past events this
ability to analyze past events this
ability to analyze past events this enables us to set and test scenarios and
enables us to set and test scenarios and
enables us to set and test scenarios and to think about what might happen in the
to think about what might happen in the
to think about what might happen in the future as a result of our actions no
future as a result of our actions no
future as a result of our actions no other animal on earth does this we’re
other animal on earth does this we’re
other animal on earth does this we’re also unique and that humans have an urge
also unique and that humans have an urge
also unique and that humans have an urge in fact it’s even a evolutionary
in fact it’s even a evolutionary
in fact it’s even a evolutionary compulsion to network with other humans
compulsion to network with other humans
compulsion to network with other humans to join our collective minds together in
to join our collective minds together in
to join our collective minds together in order to share our human experiences now
order to share our human experiences now
order to share our human experiences now this has allowed us to develop society
this has allowed us to develop society
this has allowed us to develop society and culture and to build a corpus of
and culture and to build a corpus of
and culture and to build a corpus of knowledge even allowing us to redirect
knowledge even allowing us to redirect
knowledge even allowing us to redirect the course of nature the extended human
the course of nature the extended human
the course of nature the extended human life the human lifespan and it’s enabled
life the human lifespan and it’s enabled
life the human lifespan and it’s enabled us to exploit the world’s resources for
us to exploit the world’s resources for
us to exploit the world’s resources for around own purposes
around own purposes
around own purposes but there’s a downside to this human
but there’s a downside to this human
but there’s a downside to this human uniqueness humans are the only animals
uniqueness humans are the only animals
uniqueness humans are the only animals other than our closest living relatives
other than our closest living relatives
other than our closest living relatives the chimpanzees that will work together
the chimpanzees that will work together
the chimpanzees that will work together in order to kill other members of our
in order to kill other members of our
in order to kill other members of our own species and say this is a terrible
own species and say this is a terrible
own species and say this is a terrible thing and it’s also true that while we
thing and it’s also true that while we
thing and it’s also true that while we can exploit the
can exploit the
can exploit the resources for alone ends we also have
resources for alone ends we also have
resources for alone ends we also have the capacity to destroy everything
the capacity to destroy everything
the capacity to destroy everything that’s near and dear to us consider the
that’s near and dear to us consider the
that’s near and dear to us consider the number of extinctions that are result of
number of extinctions that are result of
number of extinctions that are result of human activity and it’s an interesting
human activity and it’s an interesting
human activity and it’s an interesting irony that our successes of species has
irony that our successes of species has
irony that our successes of species has also led us to many of the complex
also led us to many of the complex
also led us to many of the complex challenges we face in the 21st century
challenges we face in the 21st century
challenges we face in the 21st century consider the expansion of human
consider the expansion of human
consider the expansion of human populations which has led to a
populations which has led to a
populations which has led to a limitation in resources human induced
limitation in resources human induced
limitation in resources human induced climate change and the aging of our
climate change and the aging of our
climate change and the aging of our population we just seen the emergence of
population we just seen the emergence of
population we just seen the emergence of new diseases like dementia and
new diseases like dementia and
new diseases like dementia and parkinsonism becoming prominent many
parkinsonism becoming prominent many
parkinsonism becoming prominent many cancers and also complex health mental
cancers and also complex health mental
cancers and also complex health mental health conditions like depression all
health conditions like depression all
health conditions like depression all really important first world problems
really important first world problems
really important first world problems well my idea contends that these sort of
well my idea contends that these sort of
well my idea contends that these sort of complex issues requires us to have
complex issues requires us to have
complex issues requires us to have collective thought and in order to do
collective thought and in order to do
collective thought and in order to do this better we need to move away from
this better we need to move away from
this better we need to move away from single single individual ways of looking
single single individual ways of looking
single single individual ways of looking at things into more collective ways of
at things into more collective ways of
at things into more collective ways of looking at things we need to pursue the
looking at things we need to pursue the
looking at things we need to pursue the intersection of ideas using my concept
intersection of ideas using my concept
intersection of ideas using my concept of hyper disciplinary learning now the
of hyper disciplinary learning now the
of hyper disciplinary learning now the idea of bringing a whole heap of
idea of bringing a whole heap of
idea of bringing a whole heap of information together to Network new
information together to Network new
information together to Network new knowledge it’s not a new thing
knowledge it’s not a new thing
knowledge it’s not a new thing in fact in third century China the way
in fact in third century China the way
in fact in third century China the way dynasty emperor chap I actually did this
dynasty emperor chap I actually did this
dynasty emperor chap I actually did this when he commissioned his chief Confucian
when he commissioned his chief Confucian
when he commissioned his chief Confucian scholar and I call Manchu to go out and
scholar and I call Manchu to go out and
scholar and I call Manchu to go out and get a book of all the knowledge that
get a book of all the knowledge that
get a book of all the knowledge that existed at the time from all the way no
existed at the time from all the way no
existed at the time from all the way no texts and philosophical works to tell a
texts and philosophical works to tell a
texts and philosophical works to tell a single anthology this is called the
single anthology this is called the
single anthology this is called the Huang Lang or Imperial Mirror contained
Huang Lang or Imperial Mirror contained
Huang Lang or Imperial Mirror contained over a thousand different chapters from
over a thousand different chapters from
over a thousand different chapters from 40 different sections and the Roman
40 different sections and the Roman
40 different sections and the Roman world also had its ability network
world also had its ability network
world also had its ability network information plenty the elders Naturalis
information plenty the elders Naturalis
information plenty the elders Naturalis historia is an example this is a
historia is an example this is a
historia is an example this is a compilation of facts about Roman life
compilation of facts about Roman life
compilation of facts about Roman life when over 2,000 authors all put together
when over 2,000 authors all put together
when over 2,000 authors all put together in the single book and other
in the single book and other
in the single book and other civilizations had similar compendium but
civilizations had similar compendium but
civilizations had similar compendium but most of these works were works at a
most of these works were works at a
most of these works were works at a single person bringing information
single person bringing information
single person bringing information together a huge undertaking consider
together a huge undertaking consider
together a huge undertaking consider John Harris’s Universal English
John Harris’s Universal English
John Harris’s Universal English dictionary of Arts and Sciences public
dictionary of Arts and Sciences public
dictionary of Arts and Sciences public first in 1704 this was a compilation of
first in 1704 this was a compilation of
first in 1704 this was a compilation of all aspects of art science and
all aspects of art science and
all aspects of art science and technology nice and neatly listed in
technology nice and neatly listed in
technology nice and neatly listed in alphabetical order for ease of reference
alphabetical order for ease of reference
alphabetical order for ease of reference and historically it was important for
and historically it was important for
and historically it was important for scholars to be proficient at all of the
scholars to be proficient at all of the
scholars to be proficient at all of the liberal arts and sciences but as we’re
liberal arts and sciences but as we’re
liberal arts and sciences but as we’re all aware the explosion of information
all aware the explosion of information
all aware the explosion of information in recent times has made this very
in recent times has made this very
in recent times has made this very difficult in fact how much information
difficult in fact how much information
difficult in fact how much information exists we’ve already heard the last
exists we’ve already heard the last
exists we’ve already heard the last speaker talking about this but when
speaker talking about this but when
speaker talking about this but when google corporation in 20th 2010 decided
google corporation in 20th 2010 decided
google corporation in 20th 2010 decided that they wanted to digitize every known
that they wanted to digitize every known
that they wanted to digitize every known publication that ever existed every name
publication that ever existed every name
publication that ever existed every name bought a estimated that the number of
bought a estimated that the number of
bought a estimated that the number of book-like objects was in the order of a
book-like objects was in the order of a
book-like objects was in the order of a hundred and thirty million books and
hundred and thirty million books and
hundred and thirty million books and from 2010 to 2015
from 2010 to 2015
from 2010 to 2015 there was an addition in excess of five
there was an addition in excess of five
there was an addition in excess of five million more book like objects published
million more book like objects published
million more book like objects published a massive amount of information and this
a massive amount of information and this
a massive amount of information and this is just the old-fashioned book these
is just the old-fashioned book these
is just the old-fashioned book these days our information in our knowledge is
days our information in our knowledge is
days our information in our knowledge is not published in all fashion books the
not published in all fashion books the
not published in all fashion books the put this into perspective Cisco Systems
put this into perspective Cisco Systems
put this into perspective Cisco Systems estimated that across the internet in
estimated that across the internet in
estimated that across the internet in 2016 the amount of data that was
2016 the amount of data that was
2016 the amount of data that was transmitted was in excess of 1.2
transmitted was in excess of 1.2
transmitted was in excess of 1.2 zettabyte
zettabyte
zettabyte and that seven orders of magnitude than
and that seven orders of magnitude than
and that seven orders of magnitude than the amount of information if all
the amount of information if all
the amount of information if all published books ever existed in him to
published books ever existed in him to
published books ever existed in him to to humans but it’s important to
to humans but it’s important to
to humans but it’s important to recognize as we’ve been reminded by
recognize as we’ve been reminded by
recognize as we’ve been reminded by Clifford Stoll but data is not
Clifford Stoll but data is not
Clifford Stoll but data is not information information is not knowledge
information information is not knowledge
information information is not knowledge knowledge is not understanding and
knowledge is not understanding and
knowledge is not understanding and importantly understanding is not wisdom
importantly understanding is not wisdom
importantly understanding is not wisdom so how might we best bring these
so how might we best bring these
so how might we best bring these zettabytes of data together to build our
zettabytes of data together to build our
zettabytes of data together to build our collective understanding it perhaps even
collective understanding it perhaps even
collective understanding it perhaps even our wisdom to solve the complex problems
our wisdom to solve the complex problems
our wisdom to solve the complex problems we face in the 21st century
we face in the 21st century
we face in the 21st century well I contend that to do this we need a
well I contend that to do this we need a
well I contend that to do this we need a realignment in the way we train a next
realignment in the way we train a next
realignment in the way we train a next generation of scientists we need to move
generation of scientists we need to move
generation of scientists we need to move away from single disciplinary
away from single disciplinary
away from single disciplinary specialties and culturally restricted
specialties and culturally restricted
specialties and culturally restricted scientific and technological subject
scientific and technological subject
scientific and technological subject areas and move towards more holistic
areas and move towards more holistic
areas and move towards more holistic models of thinking and synthesizing
models of thinking and synthesizing
models of thinking and synthesizing information
information
information this is the hyper disciplinary learning
this is the hyper disciplinary learning
this is the hyper disciplinary learning that I speak of many something above or
that I speak of many something above or
that I speak of many something above or beyond disciplines well in the history
beyond disciplines well in the history
beyond disciplines well in the history it would have been expected that the
it would have been expected that the
it would have been expected that the fort leaders of the day would actually
fort leaders of the day would actually
fort leaders of the day would actually have a fairly good grasp of a
have a fairly good grasp of a
have a fairly good grasp of a significant quantum of the then-known
significant quantum of the then-known
significant quantum of the then-known knowledge but as we’ve been discussing
knowledge but as we’ve been discussing
knowledge but as we’ve been discussing this is no longer possible and indeed in
this is no longer possible and indeed in
this is no longer possible and indeed in the 20th century and now exacerbated in
the 20th century and now exacerbated in
the 20th century and now exacerbated in our age of big data we’ve started to
our age of big data we’ve started to
our age of big data we’ve started to learn more and more about narrowing
learn more and more about narrowing
learn more and more about narrowing areas of interest and our university to
areas of interest and our university to
areas of interest and our university to degree degree programs and even our high
degree degree programs and even our high
degree degree programs and even our high school curricula reflect this this is
school curricula reflect this this is
school curricula reflect this this is the reductionist aspect of science where
the reductionist aspect of science where
the reductionist aspect of science where we asked specific questions and
we asked specific questions and
we asked specific questions and simplified idealized and controlled
simplified idealized and controlled
simplified idealized and controlled experimental settings to get a concrete
experimental settings to get a concrete
experimental settings to get a concrete an answer in absolute terms and while
an answer in absolute terms and while
an answer in absolute terms and while reductionist science has helped us to
reductionist science has helped us to
reductionist science has helped us to learn a lot and it’s been one of the
learn a lot and it’s been one of the
learn a lot and it’s been one of the reasons we’ve been able to solve many
reasons we’ve been able to solve many
reasons we’ve been able to solve many problems
problems
problems I’m afraid that complex problems require
I’m afraid that complex problems require
I’m afraid that complex problems require thinking that’s outside of this
thinking that’s outside of this
thinking that’s outside of this disciplinary box and outside you have to
disciplinary box and outside you have to
disciplinary box and outside you have to be looked at from a large number of
be looked at from a large number of
be looked at from a large number of angles so to reiterate what I’m talking
angles so to reiterate what I’m talking
angles so to reiterate what I’m talking about I want to go back to that complex
about I want to go back to that complex
about I want to go back to that complex enigma that I think about every day and
enigma that I think about every day and
enigma that I think about every day and that’s Parkinson’s disease this year we
that’s Parkinson’s disease this year we
that’s Parkinson’s disease this year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
celebrate the 200th anniversary of the 1817 publication of a small treatise in
1817 publication of a small treatise in
1817 publication of a small treatise in Thailand and essay on the shaking palsy
Thailand and essay on the shaking palsy
Thailand and essay on the shaking palsy by James Parkinson this is the first
by James Parkinson this is the first
by James Parkinson this is the first description in our Western medical
description in our Western medical
description in our Western medical literature for the disease that now
literature for the disease that now
literature for the disease that now bears James Parkinson’s names
bears James Parkinson’s names
bears James Parkinson’s names Parkinson’s disease affects over 70
Parkinson’s disease affects over 70
Parkinson’s disease affects over 70 thousand Australians and more than five
thousand Australians and more than five
thousand Australians and more than five million people worldwide it is an
million people worldwide it is an
million people worldwide it is an age-related illness and it sets its
age-related illness and it sets its
age-related illness and it sets its prevalence is set to double in the next
prevalence is set to double in the next
prevalence is set to double in the next 50 years as the world’s population gets
50 years as the world’s population gets
50 years as the world’s population gets older this has huge economic
older this has huge economic
older this has huge economic implications as in Australia alone the
implications as in Australia alone the
implications as in Australia alone the burden of Parkinson’s disease is in the
burden of Parkinson’s disease is in the
burden of Parkinson’s disease is in the order of ten billion dollars every year
order of ten billion dollars every year
order of ten billion dollars every year now we know a lot about Parkinson’s but
now we know a lot about Parkinson’s but
now we know a lot about Parkinson’s but we still can’t predict who would get
we still can’t predict who would get
we still can’t predict who would get Parkinson’s disease and once they’re
Parkinson’s disease and once they’re
Parkinson’s disease and once they’re diagnosed we can’t actually predict what
diagnosed we can’t actually predict what
diagnosed we can’t actually predict what their prop what a person’s
their prop what a person’s
their prop what a person’s prognosis knees and more most
prognosis knees and more most
prognosis knees and more most importantly though for Parkinson’s we
importantly though for Parkinson’s we
importantly though for Parkinson’s we can’t stop slow or reverse the
can’t stop slow or reverse the
can’t stop slow or reverse the degeneration of the brain it occurs of
degeneration of the brain it occurs of
degeneration of the brain it occurs of the disease but the human development of
the disease but the human development of
the disease but the human development of understanding into Parkinson’s disease
understanding into Parkinson’s disease
understanding into Parkinson’s disease provides us with a very good template my
provides us with a very good template my
provides us with a very good template my argument about the changing nature of
argument about the changing nature of
argument about the changing nature of knowledge James Parkinson himself is the
knowledge James Parkinson himself is the
knowledge James Parkinson himself is the archetypal 18th and 19th century scholar
archetypal 18th and 19th century scholar
archetypal 18th and 19th century scholar born in 1755 in the Shoreditch region of
born in 1755 in the Shoreditch region of
born in 1755 in the Shoreditch region of North East London like his father James
North East London like his father James
North East London like his father James Parkinson was an apothecary and surgeon
Parkinson was an apothecary and surgeon
Parkinson was an apothecary and surgeon and he was a member of the Royal College
and he was a member of the Royal College
and he was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons but he had an extensive
of Surgeons but he had an extensive
of Surgeons but he had an extensive education and very broad interests in
education and very broad interests in
education and very broad interests in effect in his lifetime it was probably
effect in his lifetime it was probably
effect in his lifetime it was probably more prominently known for his prolific
more prominently known for his prolific
more prominently known for his prolific writings in geology and paleontology
writings in geology and paleontology
writings in geology and paleontology it’s social welfare in and in political
it’s social welfare in and in political
it’s social welfare in and in political activism there’s no doubt that his
activism there’s no doubt that his
activism there’s no doubt that his extensive education helped him to hone
extensive education helped him to hone
extensive education helped him to hone his skills of observation and his
his skills of observation and his
his skills of observation and his ability to synthesize information these
ability to synthesize information these
ability to synthesize information these are all attributes that were
are all attributes that were
are all attributes that were particularly important in his ability to
particularly important in his ability to
particularly important in his ability to discover a new disease and it was in the
discover a new disease and it was in the
discover a new disease and it was in the 20th century that disciplinary knowledge
20th century that disciplinary knowledge
20th century that disciplinary knowledge and reductionist science and help them
and reductionist science and help them
and reductionist science and help them understand much more about Parkinson’s
understand much more about Parkinson’s
understand much more about Parkinson’s in the second decade of the 20th century
in the second decade of the 20th century
in the second decade of the 20th century it was pathologists who identified that
it was pathologists who identified that
it was pathologists who identified that the pigment in the brain was missing in
the pigment in the brain was missing in
the pigment in the brain was missing in the brains of people who have died
the brains of people who have died
the brains of people who have died Parkinson’s in an area of the brain
Parkinson’s in an area of the brain
Parkinson’s in an area of the brain called the black substance or
called the black substance or
called the black substance or substantial nigra it was until the 1950s
substantial nigra it was until the 1950s
substantial nigra it was until the 1950s that was chemists that identified that
that was chemists that identified that
that was chemists that identified that this region of the brain was very high
this region of the brain was very high
this region of the brain was very high in a chemical called dopamine and this
in a chemical called dopamine and this
in a chemical called dopamine and this allowed pharmacologists or drug
allowed pharmacologists or drug
allowed pharmacologists or drug scientists to observe their seemingly
scientists to observe their seemingly
scientists to observe their seemingly miraculous effect of replacing this
miraculous effect of replacing this
miraculous effect of replacing this chemical in the brains of people with
chemical in the brains of people with
chemical in the brains of people with Parkinson’s this was the topic of a
Parkinson’s this was the topic of a
Parkinson’s this was the topic of a wonderful book by Oliver Sacks
wonderful book by Oliver Sacks
wonderful book by Oliver Sacks published in 1973 awakenings which was
published in 1973 awakenings which was
published in 1973 awakenings which was later turned into a movie starring Robin
later turned into a movie starring Robin
later turned into a movie starring Robin Williams who ironically in 2014 died
Williams who ironically in 2014 died
Williams who ironically in 2014 died suffering from a form of Parkinson’s
suffering from a form of Parkinson’s
suffering from a form of Parkinson’s disease
disease
disease these pharmacological advances caused a
these pharmacological advances caused a
these pharmacological advances caused a revolution in our
revolution in our
revolution in our understanding of Parkinson’s and also
understanding of Parkinson’s and also
understanding of Parkinson’s and also provided for the first time treatments
provided for the first time treatments
provided for the first time treatments for individuals with the disease
for individuals with the disease
for individuals with the disease I think parallel zero surgeons and
I think parallel zero surgeons and
I think parallel zero surgeons and neurophysiologists were able to show
neurophysiologists were able to show
neurophysiologists were able to show largely by some trial and error in
largely by some trial and error in
largely by some trial and error in humans actually and then by some close
humans actually and then by some close
humans actually and then by some close and controlled experiments and animals
and controlled experiments and animals
and controlled experiments and animals that if you damaged parts of the brain
that if you damaged parts of the brain
that if you damaged parts of the brain can actually improve the motor symptoms
can actually improve the motor symptoms
can actually improve the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and this went on
of Parkinson’s disease and this went on
of Parkinson’s disease and this went on to be developed into very highly
to be developed into very highly
to be developed into very highly technical neuro you know surgical
technical neuro you know surgical
technical neuro you know surgical interventions for Parkinson’s like deep
interventions for Parkinson’s like deep
interventions for Parkinson’s like deep brain stimulation well replace small
brain stimulation well replace small
brain stimulation well replace small electrodes deep into the brain regions
electrodes deep into the brain regions
electrodes deep into the brain regions into which electrical stimulation causes
into which electrical stimulation causes
into which electrical stimulation causes pseudo lesions that control or modulate
pseudo lesions that control or modulate
pseudo lesions that control or modulate the abnormal brain functions that occur
the abnormal brain functions that occur
the abnormal brain functions that occur in the parkinsonian brain this would
in the parkinsonian brain this would
in the parkinsonian brain this would have been possible without a large
have been possible without a large
have been possible without a large number of other technical advances take
number of other technical advances take
number of other technical advances take the imaging of the brain for instance
the imaging of the brain for instance
the imaging of the brain for instance this requires important and disciplinary
this requires important and disciplinary
this requires important and disciplinary knowledge in physics for the magnetic
knowledge in physics for the magnetic
knowledge in physics for the magnetic resonance imaging and high-powered data
resonance imaging and high-powered data
resonance imaging and high-powered data processing techniques did you know that
processing techniques did you know that
processing techniques did you know that the same algorithms that are used for
the same algorithms that are used for
the same algorithms that are used for stealth bombers to find their military
stealth bombers to find their military
stealth bombers to find their military targets a neurosurgeon used upon the
targets a neurosurgeon used upon the
targets a neurosurgeon used upon the targets in the brain that are the
targets in the brain that are the
targets in the brain that are the targets for this delicate neurosurgery
targets for this delicate neurosurgery
targets for this delicate neurosurgery and I’m just talking now about the
and I’m just talking now about the
and I’m just talking now about the treatments for Parkinson’s you can
treatments for Parkinson’s you can
treatments for Parkinson’s you can imagine the amount of data that’s being
imagine the amount of data that’s being
imagine the amount of data that’s being generated in experiments that are set
generated in experiments that are set
generated in experiments that are set out to try and understand the cause the
out to try and understand the cause the
out to try and understand the cause the disease we can our sequence entire human
disease we can our sequence entire human
disease we can our sequence entire human genomes we can interrogate the way a
genomes we can interrogate the way a
genomes we can interrogate the way a single cell can read and transcribe the
single cell can read and transcribe the
single cell can read and transcribe the genetic information we can use the so
genetic information we can use the so
genetic information we can use the so called omics technologies to get an idea
called omics technologies to get an idea
called omics technologies to get an idea of globally things like the metabolome
of globally things like the metabolome
of globally things like the metabolome the proteome the epigenome and so on
the proteome the epigenome and so on
the proteome the epigenome and so on stem cell technologies enable us to
stem cell technologies enable us to
stem cell technologies enable us to culture brain cells from skin cells and
culture brain cells from skin cells and
culture brain cells from skin cells and to study the inner workings of these
to study the inner workings of these
to study the inner workings of these cells with high content microscopic
cells with high content microscopic
cells with high content microscopic imaging that can be automated to produce
imaging that can be automated to produce
imaging that can be automated to produce terabytes of information that can be
terabytes of information that can be
terabytes of information that can be analyzed by a computer algorithm we can
analyzed by a computer algorithm we can
analyzed by a computer algorithm we can monitor a patient’s symptoms their
monitor a patient’s symptoms their
monitor a patient’s symptoms their movements and even their actual brain
movements and even their actual brain
movements and even their actual brain activity in real-time with things
activity in real-time with things
activity in real-time with things simple as an iPhone you can imagine the
simple as an iPhone you can imagine the
simple as an iPhone you can imagine the amount of information that we might be
amount of information that we might be
amount of information that we might be able to generate using these experiments
able to generate using these experiments
able to generate using these experiments but to me it can be frustrating as a
but to me it can be frustrating as a
but to me it can be frustrating as a practitioner of science sir a lot of the
practitioner of science sir a lot of the
practitioner of science sir a lot of the experiments that are being done are
experiments that are being done are
experiments that are being done are being driven by the technology rather
being driven by the technology rather
being driven by the technology rather than the quality of the question itself
than the quality of the question itself
than the quality of the question itself there’s an old adage that to someone who
there’s an old adage that to someone who
there’s an old adage that to someone who owns a Hammer Every Problem looks like a
owns a Hammer Every Problem looks like a
owns a Hammer Every Problem looks like a nail
nail
nail and so it is to disciplinary scientists
and so it is to disciplinary scientists
and so it is to disciplinary scientists for example to a geneticist Parkinson’s
for example to a geneticist Parkinson’s
for example to a geneticist Parkinson’s is considered a genetic disease to a
is considered a genetic disease to a
is considered a genetic disease to a toxicologist it may be caused by an
toxicologist it may be caused by an
toxicologist it may be caused by an environmental exposure to a cell
environmental exposure to a cell
environmental exposure to a cell biologist I will explain it by a change
biologist I will explain it by a change
biologist I will explain it by a change in a cellular process and to a
in a cellular process and to a
in a cellular process and to a neurophysiologist it might all be
neurophysiologist it might all be
neurophysiologist it might all be explained by changes in the connections
explained by changes in the connections
explained by changes in the connections between areas in the brain but in
between areas in the brain but in
between areas in the brain but in reality Parkinson’s disease may be all
reality Parkinson’s disease may be all
reality Parkinson’s disease may be all of these things and it may be none of
of these things and it may be none of
of these things and it may be none of these things in order to solve the
these things in order to solve the
these things in order to solve the Enigma of Parkinson’s and many of the
Enigma of Parkinson’s and many of the
Enigma of Parkinson’s and many of the other complex challenges we face we
other complex challenges we face we
other complex challenges we face we don’t just need to train more
don’t just need to train more
don’t just need to train more geneticists or toxicologists
geneticists or toxicologists
geneticists or toxicologists pharmacologists neurophysiologists or
pharmacologists neurophysiologists or
pharmacologists neurophysiologists or even by informaticians in fact we don’t
even by informaticians in fact we don’t
even by informaticians in fact we don’t just need to train any disciplinary
just need to train any disciplinary
just need to train any disciplinary scientists but what we do need to do is
scientists but what we do need to do is
scientists but what we do need to do is train more students in the science of
train more students in the science of
train more students in the science of how to bring ideas and information
how to bring ideas and information
how to bring ideas and information together and how to look for the
together and how to look for the
together and how to look for the intersections in that knowledge in many
intersections in that knowledge in many
intersections in that knowledge in many respects this goes beyond the single
respects this goes beyond the single
respects this goes beyond the single discipline beyond multiple disciplines
discipline beyond multiple disciplines
discipline beyond multiple disciplines and actually transcends the gaps between
and actually transcends the gaps between
and actually transcends the gaps between and across disciplines this is the hyper
and across disciplines this is the hyper
and across disciplines this is the hyper disciplinary north learning that I’m
disciplinary north learning that I’m
disciplinary north learning that I’m talking about
talking about
talking about unlike the olden days polymath whose
unlike the olden days polymath whose
unlike the olden days polymath whose encyclopedic knowledge could provide the
encyclopedic knowledge could provide the
encyclopedic knowledge could provide the genius to solve the problems
genius to solve the problems
genius to solve the problems individually today’s hyper disciplinary
individually today’s hyper disciplinary
individually today’s hyper disciplinary problem solvers need to work
problem solvers need to work
problem solvers need to work collectively and in teams and they need
collectively and in teams and they need
collectively and in teams and they need to use multiple levels of data and
to use multiple levels of data and
to use multiple levels of data and multifaceted approaches of course in
multifaceted approaches of course in
multifaceted approaches of course in doing this we can’t ignore the
doing this we can’t ignore the
doing this we can’t ignore the importance of disciplinary knowledge
importance of disciplinary knowledge
importance of disciplinary knowledge this still remains critical also
this still remains critical also
this still remains critical also critical is our need to adhere to the
critical is our need to adhere to the
critical is our need to adhere to the scientific principles of evidence-based
scientific principles of evidence-based
scientific principles of evidence-based hypothesis test
hypothesis test
hypothesis test without these things we will not get far
without these things we will not get far
without these things we will not get far but we need to go beyond this using the
but we need to go beyond this using the
but we need to go beyond this using the reductionist mindset will only get us
reductionist mindset will only get us
reductionist mindset will only get us part of the way when it comes to complex
part of the way when it comes to complex
part of the way when it comes to complex challenges so any of you out there who
challenges so any of you out there who
challenges so any of you out there who are budding scientists and any of you
are budding scientists and any of you
are budding scientists and any of you interesting is interested in solving the
interesting is interested in solving the
interesting is interested in solving the complex challenges of our age let me
complex challenges of our age let me
complex challenges of our age let me conclude by saying this we need to
conclude by saying this we need to
conclude by saying this we need to embrace complexity cannot be afraid of
embrace complexity cannot be afraid of
embrace complexity cannot be afraid of it we need to look broadly for solutions
it we need to look broadly for solutions
it we need to look broadly for solutions we need to take as much of the available
we need to take as much of the available
we need to take as much of the available information as we can and we need to
information as we can and we need to
information as we can and we need to work socially and collectively to put
work socially and collectively to put
work socially and collectively to put that knowledge together in meaningful
that knowledge together in meaningful
that knowledge together in meaningful ways we need to keep asking difficult
ways we need to keep asking difficult
ways we need to keep asking difficult questions and we need to work together
questions and we need to work together
questions and we need to work together and we need to work collegiately now if
and we need to work collegiately now if
and we need to work collegiately now if carefully practiced and perfected hyper
carefully practiced and perfected hyper
carefully practiced and perfected hyper disciplinary learning will maximize our
disciplinary learning will maximize our
disciplinary learning will maximize our evolution our evolutionary propensity to
evolution our evolutionary propensity to
evolution our evolutionary propensity to network information and will help us as
network information and will help us as
network information and will help us as humans to save our planet to protect our
humans to save our planet to protect our
humans to save our planet to protect our fellow species and to avoid disaster and
fellow species and to avoid disaster and
fellow species and to avoid disaster and Oblivion thank you
Oblivion thank you
Oblivion thank you [Applause]
”
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