Ideas to change the world

The pioneering work done by the scientists at the Oxford Martin School promises to transform our world – to prolong our life-spans, enhance our brains, conquer food scarcity and solve the climate change problem. How do they propose to take us to this Brave New World and what nasty surprises might they unleash as they prise open Pandora’s box?

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IQ2 videos, written, and audio

The World in 2050

1 hr 37 min
The Future of Medicine

1 hr 20 min
Sam Harris on the science of good and evil

1 hr 22 min
Let's press pause on playing God

IQ2 videos, written, and audio

The World in 2050

1 hr 37 min
The Future of Medicine

1 hr 20 min
Sam Harris on the science of good and evil

1 hr 22 min
Let's press pause on playing God

External videos

Dalian 2009 IdeasLab - Gideon Henderson

5 min 3 sec
Ian Goldin: Navigating our global future

9 min 39 sec
Method of the Year 2010: Optogenetics

4 min 27 sec
Gero Miesenböck reengineers a brain

18 min 6 sec
Michio Kaku: The future of science

7 min 28 sec
Michio Kaku: "The World in 2030"

1 hr 4 min
Ian Goldin - The Deeper Causes of the Global Crisis

2 min 57 sec

Profiles

Optogenetics: shining a light on the human brain – but is there a dark side?

Best articles & links on the web

We don't know the potential of plants yet

Joanne Hunt, The Irish Times, 30 Sep 2010

A profile of Liam Dolan, head of the 400-year-old University of Oxford’s botanic garden, and why plant science is central to humanity’s future.
Ian Goldin: Think global

John Grace, The Guardian, 24 Oct 2006

End poverty, reverse climate change, eliminate infectious diseases, stop global conflict – these are the main challenges facing our world, and it is the James Martin School’s mission to find solutions. Ian Goldin, the school’s director, explains.
Only a New Global System Can Handle a World of Explosive Risk

Ian Goldin, The Huffington Post, 8 Jan 2010

The recent financial crisis is the first systemic crisis of the 21st Century. By learning its lessons we cannot only avoid a destabilizing cycle of more acute future financial crises, but also equip the world to handle other looming catastrophes such as climate change, global pandemics and bio-terrorism.
Man with a handle on how to survive the 21st century

Helen Pidd, Philip Oltermann and Luke Harding, The Telegraph, 21 Jan 2009

Dr Ian Goldin, an Oxford academic, tells Martin Baker that the world must face up to risks and take its opportunities. Goldin should know what he's talking about. He heads up an organisation that ranges across 35 departments at one of the world's greatest universities, and addresses the frighteningly simple "what next?'' question full on.
Using mind control to make flies sing

Roger Highfield, Lesley Chamberlain, The Telegraph, 17 Apr 2008

Professor Gero Miesenböck of Oxford University is sometimes nicknamed the "lord of the flies" after remarkable work he pioneered in America to use laser light to control fly brains with the flick of a switch. He has now applied his mind control methods to exploring fly sexuality.