Influence of Long-term Societal Trends on Technical Education and Research (with a Focus on...

Influence of Long-term Influence of Long-term Societal Trends on Technical Societal Trends on Technical

Education and Research Education and Research (with a Focus on Chemistry)(with a Focus on Chemistry)

Vladimír BálešVladimír BálešSlovak University of TechnologySlovak University of Technology

BratislavaBratislava, , Slovak RepublicSlovak Republic

E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

Influence of Long-term Societal Trends on Technical Education and Research (with a Focus on Chemistry)

OUTLINEOUTLINE

History of Science in SlovakiaHistory of Science in Slovakia

Slovak University of TechnologySlovak University of Technology

IntroductionIntroduction

Policy in Science and TechnologyPolicy in Science and Technology

Policy PhasesPolicy Phases

Societal and Technological TrendsSocietal and Technological Trends

Basic Research at the EU LevelBasic Research at the EU Level

Challenges in the Chemical IndustryChallenges in the Chemical Industry

Research in Chemical EngineeringResearch in Chemical Engineering

ConclusionConclusion


History of Science in SlovakiaHistory of Science in Slovakia

Slovakia has been well known for itsSlovakia has been well known for its mineral mineral resources - particularly gold, silver, copperresources - particularly gold, silver, copper and iron.and iron.

Kremnica Mint founded in 1328

Ducat of Matej I. (1458–1490)from the years 1479–1483


TheThe Mining Academy Mining Academy, later the , later the Academy of Academy of Mining and ForestryMining and Forestry,, was founded in 1762 by was founded in 1762 by Empress Maria Theresia and is among the Empress Maria Theresia and is among the oldest in the world.oldest in the world.

Banská Štiavnica City


The Academy contributed to the world’s The Academy contributed to the world’s development ofdevelopment of science and technology with its science and technology with its inventions,inventions, improvements in technology and its improvements in technology and its organization:organization:

First use of blasting powder for peaceful First use of blasting powder for peaceful purposes (in mining)purposes (in mining)

First atmospheric steam engines constructed First atmospheric steam engines constructed in Nová Baňain Nová Baňa


NNew machines for pumping ew machines for pumping waterwater from the mines from the mines

Development of a Development of a sophisticatedsophisticated system of system of lakes for water to supply lakes for water to supply the minesthe mines

Počúvadlo Lake


FFirst verification and work of the European irst verification and work of the European method for themethod for the amalgamation of noble amalgamation of noble metalsmetals

First international scientific organization in First international scientific organization in the world, with 29 specialists from different the world, with 29 specialists from different countries of the worldcountries of the world

Kristian Doppler’s workKristian Doppler’s work

Diversification of study into specializationsDiversification of study into specializations


DDiscovery of barium, calcium, magnesium, iscovery of barium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, manganese and tungsten by aluminium, manganese and tungsten by Anton RuprechtAnton Ruprecht, who worked in the , who worked in the Academy’s modern chemical laboratory Academy’s modern chemical laboratory

The Academy’s chemical laboratory was The Academy’s chemical laboratory was

managed by managed by M. JacquinM. Jacquin, considered by some , considered by some as the founder of experimental chemistryas the founder of experimental chemistry

M. J. Jacquin (1727-1817)in Banská Štiavnica 1763-1769


Slovak University of Technology Slovak University of Technology ((STUSTU))in Bratislavain Bratislava

Seven faculties: Seven faculties: • Civil EngineeringCivil Engineering

• ArchitectureArchitecture

• Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering

• InformaticsInformatics

• Electrical Engineering and Information ScienceElectrical Engineering and Information Science

• Chemical and Food TechnologyChemical and Food Technology

• Materials Science and TechnologyMaterials Science and Technology

More than More than 80,00080,000 Master’s and PhD graduates Master’s and PhD graduates


Slovak University of Technology Slovak University of Technology ((STUSTU))

Supports global developmentSupports global development

Participates in nationally and internationally Participates in nationally and internationally integrated research and technological integrated research and technological developmentdevelopment

Promotes interdisciplinary education and Promotes interdisciplinary education and researchresearch


IntroductionIntroduction

GlobalizationGlobalization

Information technologiesInformation technologies

Biotechnology and gene researchBiotechnology and gene research

Worldwide population growth, with a marked Worldwide population growth, with a marked

increase in the number of aging peopleincrease in the number of aging people

The most significant trends determining the future of the planet are:


Today’s world poses critical questions Today’s world poses critical questions associated with scientific and technical associated with scientific and technical development.development.

How to best support the growth of the How to best support the growth of the information economy?information economy?

How to prevent environmental destruction on How to prevent environmental destruction on both local and global scales?both local and global scales?

How to introduce new technologies, fight How to introduce new technologies, fight against terrorism and react to the spread of against terrorism and react to the spread of new diseases most effectively?new diseases most effectively?


Policy in Science and TechnologyPolicy in Science and Technology

Support of educationSupport of education

Basic researchBasic research

Key sectorsKey sectors

Each country has its own scientific and Each country has its own scientific and technological strategies concerning:technological strategies concerning:


Phases of PolicyPhases of Policy

Phase I. 1945–1975Phase I. 1945–1975

Governments were the main clients of R&D Governments were the main clients of R&D activity.activity.

Phase II. 1975–1990Phase II. 1975–1990

Governments became more like “partners” to Governments became more like “partners” to industry than “clients” of R&D activity. Project industry than “clients” of R&D activity. Project selection started to include new criteria such as selection started to include new criteria such as impact on industry and contribution to impact on industry and contribution to competitiveness. competitiveness.


Phase III. 1990 – PresentPhase III. 1990 – Present

Imperatives: quality of life and sustainable developmentImperatives: quality of life and sustainable development

The fundamental factors are:The fundamental factors are:

• Trends towards lower R&D spending in industrialized Trends towards lower R&D spending in industrialized countriescountries

• Increasing globalizationIncreasing globalization

• Rise of unemployment Rise of unemployment

• New social values and concerns (environment, quality of New social values and concerns (environment, quality of life, healthcare, pensions, etc.)life, healthcare, pensions, etc.)

• Gradual impoverishment of nations Gradual impoverishment of nations

• Growing public mistrust of science and its consequencesGrowing public mistrust of science and its consequences

• Political pressure to over-invest in military R&DPolitical pressure to over-invest in military R&D


Societal and Technological Trends Societal and Technological Trends

1.1. Creation of Technology for All Areas of Creation of Technology for All Areas of SocietySociety• Not only industrial, agricultural, and commercial useNot only industrial, agricultural, and commercial use

• But also household use, banking, administrative But also household use, banking, administrative processes, leisure and the military industryprocesses, leisure and the military industry

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• High intelligence, security, flexibility and maintenanceHigh intelligence, security, flexibility and maintenance

• Increased convenience, less paperIncreased convenience, less paper

• More graduates in technical fieldsMore graduates in technical fields


2.2. Medical ProgressMedical Progress• Significant progress in all medical fields, advancements Significant progress in all medical fields, advancements

in diagnoses, drugs, biomaterials, technical equipment in diagnoses, drugs, biomaterials, technical equipment and operationsand operations

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• Driving force for genetic engineeringDriving force for genetic engineering

• High requirements on laboratory techniqueHigh requirements on laboratory technique

• Expensive researchExpensive research


3.3. High Level of EducationHigh Level of Education• Increasing ratio of students worldwideIncreasing ratio of students worldwide

• In undeveloped countries, more women receiving an In undeveloped countries, more women receiving an educationeducation

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• New technology in education; knowledge management New technology in education; knowledge management

in a broad sensein a broad sense

• Greater demand for technical products at more Greater demand for technical products at more advanced technical levelsadvanced technical levels

• Wider use of products, systems and processes that Wider use of products, systems and processes that require higher intelligence to operaterequire higher intelligence to operate


4.4. GlobalizationGlobalization• Quick, inexpensive worldwide communication and Quick, inexpensive worldwide communication and

transportation transportation

• Concerns of increased competition and cost pressuresConcerns of increased competition and cost pressures

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• Effective, reliable communication and transport systemsEffective, reliable communication and transport systems

• Fast international transfer of technology and knowledgeFast international transfer of technology and knowledge

• Challenges for international technological competitionChallenges for international technological competition


5.5. Development of Information TechnologyDevelopment of Information Technology• Linking of information systems Linking of information systems

• Merging of computer and communication technologiesMerging of computer and communication technologies

• Digital solutions substituted for physical productsDigital solutions substituted for physical products

• Enormous market worldwideEnormous market worldwide

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• Permanent challenge to design devices and operations Permanent challenge to design devices and operations

that are easy to use, convenient and reliablethat are easy to use, convenient and reliable

• Still many processes and products that have yet to be Still many processes and products that have yet to be fully or partly digitalizedfully or partly digitalized

• Appearance of new research fields and curriculaAppearance of new research fields and curricula..

• More research in software problems and hardwareMore research in software problems and hardware


6.6. Over-use of Nature and Natural ResourcesOver-use of Nature and Natural Resources• Climatic changes threaten global instability Climatic changes threaten global instability

• Widespread exploitation of fossil energy sources and raw Widespread exploitation of fossil energy sources and raw materialsmaterials

• Destruction of forests, emissions of pollutants and Destruction of forests, emissions of pollutants and problems with clean waterproblems with clean water

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• Fundamental changes in energy technologies Fundamental changes in energy technologies

• Education in water managementEducation in water management

• Important field will be access to drinking waterImportant field will be access to drinking water

• Recycling and reuse of scarce materialsRecycling and reuse of scarce materials


7.7. Extension of Leisure ActivitiesExtension of Leisure Activities• Entertainment, sports, traveling, cultural activities, Entertainment, sports, traveling, cultural activities,

wellness and hobbieswellness and hobbies

• Extension of leisure activities strong and ongoing, and Extension of leisure activities strong and ongoing, and being extended to new countries and social groupsbeing extended to new countries and social groups

Consequences for Research and EducationConsequences for Research and Education• Leisure activities are becoming increasingly Leisure activities are becoming increasingly

technology-assisted or technology-basedtechnology-assisted or technology-based

• New types of universities for “ young” retireesNew types of universities for “ young” retirees


Basic Research at EU Level Basic Research at EU Level

Basic research activities can be found in the Basic research activities can be found in the following part of the 6th Framework following part of the 6th Framework Program:Program:

• ““Marie Currie” actions to support the training, mobility Marie Currie” actions to support the training, mobility and careers of researchers. and careers of researchers.

• Support for access to research infrastructures and Support for access to research infrastructures and their exploitation .their exploitation .

• NEST activity to provide specific support for research NEST activity to provide specific support for research “at the frontiers of knowledge” (€215 million).“at the frontiers of knowledge” (€215 million).

• Support for “thematic priorities”Support for “thematic priorities”


Challenges in the Chemical IndustryChallenges in the Chemical Industry

GlobalizationGlobalization

Asian competition Asian competition

Technological prosperity Technological prosperity

Ecological aspects Ecological aspects


Research in Chemical EngineeringResearch in Chemical Engineering

Total multi-scale control of processes to Total multi-scale control of processes to increase selectivity and productivityincrease selectivity and productivity

Process intensification by design of novel Process intensification by design of novel equipment and new production operating equipment and new production operating methodsmethods

Synthesis of structured products, combining Synthesis of structured products, combining several functions and properties several functions and properties

Implementation of multi-scale and Implementation of multi-scale and multidisciplinary computational modeling multidisciplinary computational modeling and simulation of real-life situationsand simulation of real-life situations


ConclusionConclusion

One must never forget that engineers and One must never forget that engineers and

scientists are problem solvers and must scientists are problem solvers and must

apply Isaac Newton’s citation: apply Isaac Newton’s citation: ““solving solving

problems is more important than learning problems is more important than learning

rulesrules””. .

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