British public to choose ‘greatest issue of our time’ for £10 million prize
www.nesta.org.uk/press-release/british-public-to-choose-greatest-issue-of-our-time-for-10-million-prize/
www.nesta.org.uk/press-release/british-public-to-choose-greatest-issue-of-our-time-for-10-million-prize/
Longitude Prize 2014, a challenge with a prize fund of £10 million, has been launched today to help solve one the greatest issues of our time. The British public will cast the deciding vote to choose the issue that the prize will tackle.
Longitude Prize 2014, a challenge with a prize fund of £10 million, has been launched today to help solve one the greatest issues of our time. The British public will cast the deciding vote to choose the issue that the prize will tackle. The prize has been developed and run by Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation. It was launched by the Prime Minister at G8 last year, and through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is being supported by the Technology Strategy Board, the UK’s innovation agency, as launch funding partner.
Longitude Prize 2014 commemorates the 300th anniversary of the Longitude Act where in 1714 the British government threw down the gauntlet to solve one of the great scientific challenges of that century: how to pinpoint a ship’s location at sea by knowing its longitude. The challenge was solved by watchmaker and carpenter John Harrison who designed the chronometer, the first seafaring clock that allowed accurate navigation. The solution not only led to safer sea travel but opened up global trade.
Over the last two years, Nesta and Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees have brought together an illustrious committee to bring the new prize to life and identify some of the equivalent challenges facing us today. The Longitude Committee has shortlisted six major issues facing the world. The whole of the UK can now get involved and have their say in deciding which should be the focus of Longitude Prize 2014.
Flight - How can we fly without damaging the environment?
If aircraft carbon emissions continue to rise they could contribute up to 15 per cent of global warming from human activities within 50 years. This needs to be addressed in order to slow down climate change and its detrimental effects on the planet. The challenge is to design and build an aeroplane that is as close to zero carbon as possible and capable of flying from London to Edinburgh, at comparable speed to today’s aircraft.
Food - How can we ensure everyone has nutritious, sustainable food?
One in eight people worldwide do not get enough food to live a healthy and fulfilled life. With a growing population and limited resources, providing everybody with nutritious, sustainable food is one of the biggest global problems ever faced. The challenge is to invent the next big food innovation, helping to ensure a future where everyone has enough nutritious, affordable and environmentally sustainable food.
Antibiotics – How can we prevent the rise of resistance to antibiotics?
The development of antibiotics has added an average of 20 years to our life, yet the rise of antimicrobial resistance is threatening to make them ineffective. This poses a significant future risk as common infections become untreatable. The challenge is to create a cost-effective, accurate, rapid, and easy-to-use test for bacterial infections that will allow health professionals worldwide to administer the right antibiotics at the right time.
Paralysis - How can we restore movement to those with paralysis?
In the UK, a person is paralysed every eight hours. Paralysis can emerge from a number of different injuries, conditions and disorders and the effects can be devastating. Every day can be demanding when mobility, bowel control, sexual function and respiration are lost or impaired. The challenge is to invent a solution that gives paralysed people close to the same freedom of movement that most of us enjoy.
Water - How can we ensure everyone can have access to safe and clean water?
Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. Forty-four per cent of the world’s population and 28 per cent of the world’s agriculture are in regions of the world where water is scarce. The challenge is to alleviate the growing pressure on the planet’s fresh water by creating a cheap, environmentally sustainable desalination technology.
Dementia - How can we help people with dementia to live independently for longer?
It is estimated that 135 million people worldwide will have dementia by 2050, which will mean a greater personal and financial cost to society. With no existing cure, there is a need to find ways to support a person’s dignity, physical and emotional wellbeing. The challenge is to develop intelligent, affordable integrated technologies that revolutionise care for people with dementia, enabling them to live independent lives.
Martin Rees, Chair of the Longitude Committee and Astronomer Royal, said: "Science and technology have transformed people's lives for the better. But much more is needed to meet the needs of the world's rising and ageing population - and to do this in a way that avoids unsustainable pressure on the environment.
"Three hundred years ago the Longitude Act stimulated invention and drew out hidden talent. But today there are many areas where progress is still needed. That's why we've decided that the theme of Longitude Prize 2014 should be selected in response to a public vote. We can all play a part, so I encourage people to tell us what their number one challenge is."
Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: "This prize will challenge scientists to tackle one of today's greatest scientific problems. What makes this prize so innovative however, is that the public will be given the power to decide which area of science and society will benefit from this funding. This is everyone's opportunity to play a part in what could be the next scientific milestone."
On 22 May, BBC Two will broadcast a special 50th anniversary show of Horizon which will profile the Longitude Prize 2014, detailing the challenges and telling people why they should be solved. After this, people will be able to vote for the challenge they feel is the most important at www.bbc.co.uk/horizon.
By the end of June, the public vote will have decided which challenge will be given a £10 million prize fund and up to five years to find a solution. Follow the progress of the Longitude Prize 2014 at www.longitudeprize.org.
