The best of. For our future in science and technology

Transcription

1 The best of The Best For our future in science and technology Merck, a leading science and technology company, will this year celebrate its 350th anniversary by initiating a flagship scientific conference: Curious2018 Future Insight. Focusing on the future of science and technology, this unique event will bring together a panel of outstanding speakers composed of more than 35 of the world s most distinguished scientists and entrepreneurs, including five Nobel Prize winners. The goal of conference? To harness new ideas to create a better world. Outstanding individuals will present their work with a series of keynotes held over three days, among them Joachim Frank (winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry), Sir Fraser Stoddart (2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry), Bruce Beutler (2011, in Medicine), Harald zur Hausen (2008, in Medicine) and Jean-Marie Lehn (1987, in Chemistry). They will join in debate at round tables and panel discussions organized in conjunction with Nature and AAAS/Science. Other accomplished contributors include Craig Venter, Emmanuelle Charpentier, and Tom Knight.

2 Speakers and interviewees The following are just some of the speakers and participants who will be available for interviews and statements about their work. Joachim Frank (Tuesday, 14:45 15:30) Since 2008, Joachim Frank has been Professor at the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Biological Sciences of Columbia University. He shared the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two fellow scientists. Conference Topic: Frank will explore how Cryo-EM might transform structural biology into a toolset addressing not just structure, but also functional dynamics. Harald zur Hausen (Wednesday, 17:00 17:45) In 2008, Harald zur Hausen won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of specific human papillomavirus types and their role in cervical cancer. Conference Topic: The Nobel Laureate will talk about his discovery and contribution to the field of cervical cancer. Sir Fraser Stoddart (Tuesday, 09:45 10:30) In 2007, Fraser Stoddart was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to chemistry and molecular nanotechnology. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Conference Topic: Will be announced. Jean-Marie Lehn (Tuesday, 14:00 14:45) Currently Professor at the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), in 1987 Jean-Marie Lehn received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his studies on molecular recognition. Conference Topic: Perspectives in chemistry. From supramolecular to adaptive chemistry. Bruce Beutler (Tuesday, 09:00 09:45) For his studies of innate immune sensing and response, Bruce Beutler was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. Conference Topic: The causes of phenotypes can now be determined in real time by working with mice and pairing new computational methods with high-speed sequencing. Beutler will give an insight into his latest research. Frances Arnold (Monday, 16:45 17:30) Arnold is Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bio-engineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology. She is known for her pioneering work on the directed evolution of biological molecules. Conference Topic: Arnold will explain how science can use evolution to optimize existing enzymes and create new ones.

3 Craig Venter (Monday, 14:45 15:30) Craig Venter is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his numerous contributions to genome research. Conference Topic: From digital life to extending healthy human life. Tom Knight (Wednesday, 15:00 15:45) In 1996, Tom Knight built a molecular biology laboratory in the MIT computer science department. Today he is a key driver behind developments in synthetic biology. Conference Topic: Knight will address the growing demand for engineered microbes and how they can be developed for chemical products. Emmanuelle Charpentier (Wednesday, 13:30 14:15) Charpentier is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, Honorary Professor at Humboldt University, and recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship. Conference Topic: CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which enables the precise and efficient engineering or correction of mutations, modulation of gene expression, and marking of DNA in a wide variety of cell types and organisms. Renee Mauborgne (Monday, 14:00 14:45) Professor of Strategy at INSEAD and Co-Director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute, Mauborgne is ranked one of the world s top three management gurus on the Thinkers50 list. She is also a fellow of the World Economic Forum. Conference Topic: How entrepreneurs can improve their opportunities for growth and sharpen their strategic thinking. Daniel Zajfman (Monday, 17:30 18:15) Israeli physicist Zajfman is President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research focuses mainly on the physics of simple molecular ions. Conference Topic: Curiosity-driven research and its role in the development of innovations. Stefan Oschmann (Monday, 13:00 13:30; Tuesday, 10:30 10:45) Stefan Oschmann is Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. Before taking office at the end of April 2016, he served as Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO, with responsibility for Group Strategy, among other things. Interview requests and planning Please contact Gangolf Schrimpf, or gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com

4 The topics 1 4 Healthcare: Healthy Lives new breakthrough therapies and diagnostics When a breakthrough cure for cancer or autoimmune diseases is in sight, what could this mean? What innovative technologies might revolutionize the discovery and development of new drugs? What will the healthcare systems of the future look like, and how can we stop diseases before they even emerge? Where there is health there is hope, and hope is everything. Despite all the progress made, the need for new drugs is still huge. Digitalization: Vibrant Digital the power of in-silico How can we harness the power of digitalization to devise and build the products and services of the future? How can machine-enhanced human intelligence bring about the definitive leap forward and empower mankind? Machine learning, big data analysis, cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual and augmented reality all these things will change the world as we know it. 2 Life Science: Life Reimagined synthetic biology Cooperation: Bright Future new ways of working and and beyond collaborating The future is within our grasp. Thanks to new technologies with the potential to correct genetic defects, reprogram stem cells, and uncover the mysteries of the microbiome. What technologies might harness the potential that the future holds? How will we respond to important ethical and legal questions? There is an infinite number of ways to reinvent life. 5 Science and technology are always evolving, and can help shape a bright future for humanity. What breakthroughs have the potential to change the world? How can we find new ways to work, and to work together? How do you define the ideal organization? 3 Performance Materials: Materials & Solutions chemistry and beyond Most technological breakthroughs rely on new materials. Where is chemistry heading? How will nanotechnology and advanced surface chemistry help shape the future? Crucial questions for research and development. Because research and innovation always start with the basic principles of chemistry. The Curious2018 Future Insight Conference is the place to meet the people that shape the global future of science & technology. Conference Lead: Dr. Ulrich Betz Vice President Innovation, Merck

5 AT a glance Note The italicized words are hyperlinks! We are fighting cancer and other serious diseases. We are Image source: darmstadtium / feedback werbeagentur GmbH helping other companies to conduct research even more quickly and efficiently. And we are developing high-tech materials with which autonomous driving or foldable displays, for example, are becoming reality. We are doing all this in close partnership with top researchers When? July 16 July 18, 2018 What? Overview: curious2018.com Agenda: curious2018.com/agenda Where? darmstadium (Map) Wissenschafts- und Kongresszentrum Schlossgraben Darmstadt, Germany around the globe. Therefore, we are very much looking forward to a huge celebration of research with the best of the best. Stefan Oschmann Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck accreditation Request media@curious2018.com Or directly gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com

6 Merck Frankfurter Strasse Darmstadt merckgroup.com/350