my name is William and I am a scientific researcher at the Swedish University of
researcher at the Swedish University of
researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in all art and so
Agricultural Sciences in all art and so
Agricultural Sciences in all art and so for my scientific research for my
for my scientific research for my
for my scientific research for my research I study the genetics of insect
research I study the genetics of insect
research I study the genetics of insect crop pests with focus on those that
crop pests with focus on those that
crop pests with focus on those that damage apple which is a major product
damage apple which is a major product
damage apple which is a major product here in stone ax ever since I saw the
here in stone ax ever since I saw the
here in stone ax ever since I saw the movie Jurassic Park as a teenager I knew
movie Jurassic Park as a teenager I knew
movie Jurassic Park as a teenager I knew that I wanted to be a genetic engineer
that I wanted to be a genetic engineer
that I wanted to be a genetic engineer but aside from my desire to use the
but aside from my desire to use the
but aside from my desire to use the power of genetics to bring big scary
power of genetics to bring big scary
power of genetics to bring big scary mobsters back from extinction I was also
mobsters back from extinction I was also
mobsters back from extinction I was also inspired by my high school biology
inspired by my high school biology
inspired by my high school biology teacher and his lessons on the genetic
teacher and his lessons on the genetic
teacher and his lessons on the genetic code and blueprint for lights at the
code and blueprint for lights at the
code and blueprint for lights at the Agricultural University I have
Agricultural University I have
Agricultural University I have successfully taken genes from pest moths
successfully taken genes from pest moths
successfully taken genes from pest moths and transferred them into the genome of
and transferred them into the genome of
and transferred them into the genome of a genetic model organism the common
a genetic model organism the common
a genetic model organism the common fruit fly doing this allows us to more
fruit fly doing this allows us to more
fruit fly doing this allows us to more easily study the genes of the pest moths
easily study the genes of the pest moths
easily study the genes of the pest moths and this promotes a better understanding
and this promotes a better understanding
and this promotes a better understanding of their basic biology but above and
of their basic biology but above and
of their basic biology but above and beyond my passion for fundamental
beyond my passion for fundamental
beyond my passion for fundamental genetics I believe that we should not
genetics I believe that we should not
genetics I believe that we should not just do research for the sake of
just do research for the sake of
just do research for the sake of generating basic knowledge rather that
generating basic knowledge rather that
generating basic knowledge rather that we should we should strive to put that
we should we should strive to put that
we should we should strive to put that knowledge to practical use for the
knowledge to practical use for the
knowledge to practical use for the betterment of our societies and towards
betterment of our societies and towards
betterment of our societies and towards greater economic and environmental
greater economic and environmental
greater economic and environmental sustainability I’ve chosen to do
sustainability I’ve chosen to do
sustainability I’ve chosen to do research in the agricultural sector
research in the agricultural sector
research in the agricultural sector because I think that food safety and
because I think that food safety and
because I think that food safety and food security are two very important
food security are two very important
food security are two very important issues that we will be facing in the
issues that we will be facing in the
issues that we will be facing in the 21st century as
21st century as
21st century as adapt to a world with exponentially
adapt to a world with exponentially
adapt to a world with exponentially increasing human population global
increasing human population global
increasing human population global climate change and diminishing
climate change and diminishing
climate change and diminishing non-renewable resources that is my
non-renewable resources that is my
non-renewable resources that is my purpose the big idea that I’d like to
purpose the big idea that I’d like to
purpose the big idea that I’d like to share with you today in turn is the
share with you today in turn is the
share with you today in turn is the complicated relationship between science
complicated relationship between science
complicated relationship between science and technology and why what we do as
and technology and why what we do as
and technology and why what we do as scientists is so important we prefer
scientists is so important we prefer
scientists is so important we prefer that the path between scientific
that the path between scientific
that the path between scientific discovery and practical application or
discovery and practical application or
discovery and practical application or technology look like this
technology look like this
technology look like this simple easy direct but in reality it
simple easy direct but in reality it
simple easy direct but in reality it quite often looks like this very messy
quite often looks like this very messy
quite often looks like this very messy sometimes scientific discoveries and
sometimes scientific discoveries and
sometimes scientific discoveries and even lead to technological advances in
even lead to technological advances in
even lead to technological advances in seemingly unexpected or unrelated areas
seemingly unexpected or unrelated areas
seemingly unexpected or unrelated areas over the next 10 minutes or so I will be
over the next 10 minutes or so I will be
over the next 10 minutes or so I will be exploring this idea further the
exploring this idea further the
exploring this idea further the footprints of science are all around us
footprints of science are all around us
footprints of science are all around us hiding in plain sight the benefits of
hiding in plain sight the benefits of
hiding in plain sight the benefits of scientific research blend into the
scientific research blend into the
scientific research blend into the backgrounds of our daily lives and are
backgrounds of our daily lives and are
backgrounds of our daily lives and are taken completely for granted but
taken completely for granted but
taken completely for granted but scientific research is so essential to
scientific research is so essential to
scientific research is so essential to our collective human civilization that
our collective human civilization that
our collective human civilization that world governments invest billions and
world governments invest billions and
world governments invest billions and billions of dollars in scientific
billions of dollars in scientific
billions of dollars in scientific research every year they even put
research every year they even put
research every year they even put world-famous scientists on paper money
world-famous scientists on paper money
world-famous scientists on paper money for acknowledgement for their
for acknowledgement for their
for acknowledgement for their contributions to our societies science
contributions to our societies science
contributions to our societies science however is not just hidden the truths
however is not just hidden the truths
however is not just hidden the truths revealed it’s also the methodical
revealed it’s also the methodical
revealed it’s also the methodical process used to uncover the secrets of
process used to uncover the secrets of
process used to uncover the secrets of nature and while technology is seemingly
nature and while technology is seemingly
nature and while technology is seemingly advanced
advanced
advanced quite rapidly these days as our last
quite rapidly these days as our last
quite rapidly these days as our last speaker pointed out scientific research
speaker pointed out scientific research
speaker pointed out scientific research is pain staking ly slow in this era of
is pain staking ly slow in this era of
is pain staking ly slow in this era of instant communication scientific
instant communication scientific
instant communication scientific research is simply not fast enough and
research is simply not fast enough and
research is simply not fast enough and with the breathtaking speed of
with the breathtaking speed of
with the breathtaking speed of technological progress the expectations
technological progress the expectations
technological progress the expectations for science are greater than ever before
for science are greater than ever before
for science are greater than ever before there is especially an increasing
there is especially an increasing
there is especially an increasing impatience with the pace at which
impatience with the pace at which
impatience with the pace at which medical research progresses having
medical research progresses having
medical research progresses having failed year after year to provide cures
failed year after year to provide cures
failed year after year to provide cures for diseases such as cancer and
for diseases such as cancer and
for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s how much human suffering and
Alzheimer’s how much human suffering and
Alzheimer’s how much human suffering and devastation result from these and when
devastation result from these and when
devastation result from these and when will it end
will it end
will it end in my own field economic costs due to
in my own field economic costs due to
in my own field economic costs due to insect pests damage are immense
insect pests damage are immense
insect pests damage are immense amounting to billions of dollars every
amounting to billions of dollars every
amounting to billions of dollars every year and tons and tons of food product
year and tons and tons of food product
year and tons and tons of food product damaged and destroyed by insects out in
damaged and destroyed by insects out in
damaged and destroyed by insects out in the fields before ever even making it to
the fields before ever even making it to
the fields before ever even making it to market in addition to being slow
market in addition to being slow
market in addition to being slow scientific research is also very
scientific research is also very
scientific research is also very expensive and you had better believe
expensive and you had better believe
expensive and you had better believe that those paying for it expect
that those paying for it expect
that those paying for it expect accountability there is thus a need to
accountability there is thus a need to
accountability there is thus a need to demonstrate tangible public benefit
demonstrate tangible public benefit
demonstrate tangible public benefit resulting from all of the billions and
resulting from all of the billions and
resulting from all of the billions and billions invested in scientific research
billions invested in scientific research
billions invested in scientific research every year but here’s the thing there
every year but here’s the thing there
every year but here’s the thing there isn’t always an obvious direct path
isn’t always an obvious direct path
isn’t always an obvious direct path between science and technology how then
between science and technology how then
between science and technology how then can we as societies know which areas to
can we as societies know which areas to
can we as societies know which areas to invest in when the prognosis is so
invest in when the prognosis is so
invest in when the prognosis is so unclear
in the post-world War 2 era a scientific
in the post-world War 2 era a scientific adviser to US president Harry Truman
adviser to US president Harry Truman
adviser to US president Harry Truman answered this question arguing in favor
answered this question arguing in favor
answered this question arguing in favor of investing broad scale in basic
of investing broad scale in basic
of investing broad scale in basic scientific research without
scientific research without
scientific research without discrimination or expectation of
discrimination or expectation of
discrimination or expectation of practicality and I quote him discoveries
practicality and I quote him discoveries
practicality and I quote him discoveries pertinent to medical progress have often
pertinent to medical progress have often
pertinent to medical progress have often come from remote and uh unexpected
come from remote and uh unexpected
come from remote and uh unexpected sources and it is certain that this will
sources and it is certain that this will
sources and it is certain that this will be true in the future now I will give a
be true in the future now I will give a
be true in the future now I will give a couple of examples illustrating how this
couple of examples illustrating how this
couple of examples illustrating how this has been true
this was one of the first computers ever
this was one of the first computers ever created 1946 maybe one of them could fit
created 1946 maybe one of them could fit
created 1946 maybe one of them could fit up here on stage nowadays however almost
up here on stage nowadays however almost
up here on stage nowadays however almost everyone here is likely to have a
everyone here is likely to have a
everyone here is likely to have a pocket-sized mini computer that is far
pocket-sized mini computer that is far
pocket-sized mini computer that is far more powerful than the computing
more powerful than the computing
more powerful than the computing equipment that was used to send man to
equipment that was used to send man to
equipment that was used to send man to the moon how did this happen well first
the moon how did this happen well first
the moon how did this happen well first it would not be possible without
it would not be possible without
it would not be possible without semiconductors semiconductors are almost
semiconductors semiconductors are almost
semiconductors semiconductors are almost magical yet naturally occurring
magical yet naturally occurring
magical yet naturally occurring materials that have the properties of
materials that have the properties of
materials that have the properties of both a conductor and insulator of
both a conductor and insulator of
both a conductor and insulator of electric current this makes them
electric current this makes them
electric current this makes them incredibly useful semiconductors were
incredibly useful semiconductors were
incredibly useful semiconductors were actually first discovered way back in
actually first discovered way back in
actually first discovered way back in the 1830s but it wasn’t until advances
the 1830s but it wasn’t until advances
the 1830s but it wasn’t until advances in quantum physics around 100 years
in quantum physics around 100 years
in quantum physics around 100 years later that semiconductors can be fully
later that semiconductors can be fully
later that semiconductors can be fully understood and eventually applied to
understood and eventually applied to
understood and eventually applied to integrated circuit boards giving way to
integrated circuit boards giving way to
integrated circuit boards giving way to the modern computer so this is really a
the modern computer so this is really a
the modern computer so this is really a story 200 years in the making the next
story 200 years in the making the next
story 200 years in the making the next example is a
example is a
example is a technology that I will be using in my
technology that I will be using in my
technology that I will be using in my own research this year it’s called
own research this year it’s called
own research this year it’s called CRISPR Cass genome editing you may have
CRISPR Cass genome editing you may have
CRISPR Cass genome editing you may have heard of it it’s been in the news lately
heard of it it’s been in the news lately
heard of it it’s been in the news lately CRISPR is a very precise gene editing
CRISPR is a very precise gene editing
CRISPR is a very precise gene editing system that holds great promise to cure
system that holds great promise to cure
system that holds great promise to cure almost any genetic disease imaginable
almost any genetic disease imaginable
almost any genetic disease imaginable and solve all of humankind’s problems
and solve all of humankind’s problems
and solve all of humankind’s problems okay so that’s a bit of an exaggeration
okay so that’s a bit of an exaggeration
okay so that’s a bit of an exaggeration but here’s the thing the science behind
but here’s the thing the science behind
but here’s the thing the science behind CRISPR technology was not originally
CRISPR technology was not originally
CRISPR technology was not originally focused on discovering a way to edit
focused on discovering a way to edit
focused on discovering a way to edit genes it’s a story that goes back 30
genes it’s a story that goes back 30
genes it’s a story that goes back 30 years involving multiple research groups
years involving multiple research groups
years involving multiple research groups across the globe first in 1987 there was
across the globe first in 1987 there was
across the globe first in 1987 there was the discovery of odd genetic features in
the discovery of odd genetic features in
the discovery of odd genetic features in the genomes of bacteria and then around
the genomes of bacteria and then around
the genomes of bacteria and then around 20 years later the demonstration that
20 years later the demonstration that
20 years later the demonstration that these genetic features were actually
these genetic features were actually
these genetic features were actually part of a primitive bacterial immune
part of a primitive bacterial immune
part of a primitive bacterial immune system and finally around 2013 a couple
system and finally around 2013 a couple
system and finally around 2013 a couple of reports showing that these genetic
of reports showing that these genetic
of reports showing that these genetic features could be exploited to edit
features could be exploited to edit
features could be exploited to edit virtually any gene in the genome of
virtually any gene in the genome of
virtually any gene in the genome of virtually any life-form who could have
virtually any life-form who could have
virtually any life-form who could have ever predicted that the immune system of
ever predicted that the immune system of
ever predicted that the immune system of a bacteria could be so useful and so we
a bacteria could be so useful and so we
a bacteria could be so useful and so we will be using CRISPR to edit the genes
will be using CRISPR to edit the genes
will be using CRISPR to edit the genes in our Apple pest moths and this will
in our Apple pest moths and this will
in our Apple pest moths and this will allow them this will allow us to
allow them this will allow us to
allow them this will allow us to understand their genetics in greater
understand their genetics in greater
understand their genetics in greater detail than we ever could before so to
detail than we ever could before so to
detail than we ever could before so to wrap things up my message is this
wrap things up my message is this
wrap things up my message is this scientific progress doesn’t happen
scientific progress doesn’t happen
scientific progress doesn’t happen overnight the grand outcome
overnight the grand outcome
overnight the grand outcome of scientific discoveries are rarely
of scientific discoveries are rarely
of scientific discoveries are rarely foreseen with great clarity and these
foreseen with great clarity and these
foreseen with great clarity and these sources of technological advances often
sources of technological advances often
sources of technological advances often cannot be predicted well in advance
cannot be predicted well in advance
cannot be predicted well in advance perhaps this is so not due to lack of
perhaps this is so not due to lack of
perhaps this is so not due to lack of direction or randomness but rather that
direction or randomness but rather that
direction or randomness but rather that the scientific process reflects human
the scientific process reflects human
the scientific process reflects human abilities what is science more then
abilities what is science more then
abilities what is science more then digging beneath the surface probing at
digging beneath the surface probing at
digging beneath the surface probing at nature and illuminating the invisible
nature and illuminating the invisible
nature and illuminating the invisible it’s not easy genes atoms microbes
it’s not easy genes atoms microbes
it’s not easy genes atoms microbes electromagnetic waves these things are
electromagnetic waves these things are
electromagnetic waves these things are not intuitive to us because throughout
not intuitive to us because throughout
not intuitive to us because throughout most of our evolutionary history knowing
most of our evolutionary history knowing
most of our evolutionary history knowing about them was not necessary for our
about them was not necessary for our
about them was not necessary for our survival and it’s like out of sight out
survival and it’s like out of sight out
survival and it’s like out of sight out of mind
of mind
of mind but our shared human civilization has
but our shared human civilization has
but our shared human civilization has been built upon discovery of the unknown
been built upon discovery of the unknown
been built upon discovery of the unknown we wouldn’t be where we are in the world
we wouldn’t be where we are in the world
we wouldn’t be where we are in the world today without it at the AG university my
today without it at the AG university my
today without it at the AG university my group does research on insect pests that
group does research on insect pests that
group does research on insect pests that damage crops we aim for better more
damage crops we aim for better more
damage crops we aim for better more environmentally sustainable ways to
environmentally sustainable ways to
environmentally sustainable ways to control insect damage by exploiting the
control insect damage by exploiting the
control insect damage by exploiting the insects sense of smell to distract in
insects sense of smell to distract in
insects sense of smell to distract in misdirect them from the crops but our
misdirect them from the crops but our
misdirect them from the crops but our research approach is rooted in the
research approach is rooted in the
research approach is rooted in the fields of neuro biology chemistry
fields of neuro biology chemistry
fields of neuro biology chemistry genetics ecology and evolution within
genetics ecology and evolution within
genetics ecology and evolution within the life sciences these are all very
the life sciences these are all very
the life sciences these are all very different disciplines with different
different disciplines with different
different disciplines with different methods and different objectives our
methods and different objectives our
methods and different objectives our contributions to these fields may indeed
contributions to these fields may indeed
contributions to these fields may indeed filter across the scientific community
filter across the scientific community
filter across the scientific community possibly leading to advances
possibly leading to advances
possibly leading to advances in science and technology that are far
in science and technology that are far
in science and technology that are far removed from controlling insect pests so
removed from controlling insect pests so
removed from controlling insect pests so my challenge to you is this
my challenge to you is this
my challenge to you is this whenever you next see a story on the
whenever you next see a story on the
whenever you next see a story on the news or in social media about some
news or in social media about some
news or in social media about some ridiculous absurd sounding scientific
ridiculous absurd sounding scientific
ridiculous absurd sounding scientific research study such as the mating ritual
research study such as the mating ritual
research study such as the mating ritual of a sea slug or or the study of autism
of a sea slug or or the study of autism
of a sea slug or or the study of autism in a fruit fly remember this if you dig
in a fruit fly remember this if you dig
in a fruit fly remember this if you dig beneath the surface you will likely
beneath the surface you will likely
beneath the surface you will likely discover that there is a very important
discover that there is a very important
discover that there is a very important purpose for why this basic research is
purpose for why this basic research is
purpose for why this basic research is being done and some day it may even
being done and some day it may even
being done and some day it may even contribute to making the world a better
contribute to making the world a better
contribute to making the world a better place thank you
”
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