News: News Archives Facing an "Extreme Future," Nations—and
Researchers—Must Collaborate, Experts Say With the world facing
stresses on energy, water, food supplies and social services
that seem destined to grow more dire, 21st century science will
have to adopt new, more global approaches in organization and
funding to provide solutions, experts told an 8 May session of
the 33rd annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy.
James Canton, chief executive officer of the Institute for
Global Futures, predicts the world will face an "extreme future"
by 2020, with energy supplies failing to keep pace with the
economic growth; developed nations continuing to experience
declines in population; 95% of the world's 8 billion people
living in developing nations; the rise of 100 megacities with
more than 10 million people each; and a wealth gap between the
"haves" and the "have nots" that continues to widen. "We're
going to be challenged on food, energy, water and climate
change," Canton said during a panel discus