A visionary look at the way the human mind can shape the future by
world-renowned physicist Neil Turok. Every technology we rely on today
was created by the human mind, seeking to understand the universe around
us. Scientific knowledge is our most precious possession, and our future
will be shaped by the breakthroughs to come. In this personal and
fascinating work, Neil Turok, Director of the Perimeter Institute for
Theoretical Physics, explores the transformative scientific discoveries
of the past three centuries -- from classical mechanics, to the nature
of light, to the bizarre world of the quantum, and the evolution of the
cosmos. Each new discovery has, over time, yielded new technologies
causing paradigm shifts in the organization of society. Now, he argues,
we are on the cusp of another major transformation: the coming quantum
revolution that will supplant our current, dissatisfying digital age.
Facing this brave new world, Turok calls for creatively re-inventing the
way advanced knowledge is developed and shared, and opening access to
the vast, untapped pools of intellectual talent in the developing world.
Scientific research, training, and outreach are vital to our future
economy, as well as powerful forces for peaceful global progress.