January 23, 2018

The Global Science Outlook at Davos

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Every year since I started to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, it feels as if the presence of science is growing. And no wonder. This year’s theme, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World,” seems to speak directly to the capabilities and promise of basic research as a tool to solve some of humanity’s grand challenges.

Joining me in the panel discussion were Sarah Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, United Arab Emirates; Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the U.S.; Jeremy Farrar, Director, Wellcome Trust in the U.K., Lars Heikensten, Executive Director, Nobel Foundation in Sweden; and V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, Indian Institute of Technology in Dehli, India. We talked a lot about the value of collaboration—across disciplines, nations and cultures. We discussed the challenges and barriers for science, from funding to limits to movement. The panelists offered ideas for supporting science, so it, in turn, can support our wellbeing.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American