Cover Image: February 2008 Scientific American Magazine See Inside

Building a Future On Science [Preview]

Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel A. L. Nicolelis taps into the chatter of neural populations to drive robotic prosthetics. Now he hopes to tap the potential of his country's population by building them a network of science cities















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Image: Cristobal Corrall Vega (Jinn Health Clinic)

In Brief

  •  A neuroscientist’s plan to establish top-quality scientific institutes across Brazil is also a social experiment in distributing the intellectual and economic fruits of science.
  • Global networking, heterogeneous funding and fortunate political timing have allowed the project to progress rapidly.
  • The expatriate scientists who originated the plan hoped to help shape a competitive nation whose future citizens can excel without having to emigrate.

In a tiny, darkened room on the Duke University campus, Miguel Nicolelis looks on approvingly while a pair of students monitors data streaming across computer screens. The brightly colored dashes and spikes reflect the real-time brain activity of a rhesus macaque named Clementine, who is walking at a leisurely pace on a little treadmill in the next room. Staticky pops coming from a speaker on a back wall are the amplified sound of one of her neurons firing.

“This is the most beautiful music you can hear from the brain,” Nicolelis declares with a smile.


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2 Comments

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  1. 1. jagadeeshwar 01:28 PM 1/18/08

    please explore the information about NASA,
    on Artificial Intelligence to develope the robot eye contacts,

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  2. 2. americanscholar 06:19 PM 1/27/08

    Mr. Nicolelis said that, "Ninety-nine percent of scientific work doesn't require a Ph.D."

    For those of you readers in the field, could you elaborate on what this looks like? What jobs or activities make up the work of this 99%? Which career paths might one choose to be a part of that 99%?

    I am 32-years-old with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. I am very keen on science and intend to continue with my education. I would like to be involved with the scientific community, but feel I'm a bit late in age to go for a Ph.D. in a scientific field. What would you advise for someone in my position.

    Thanks for your time and for the article.

     

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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