Background
Advances in technology in the 21st century are profoundly reshaping the human landscape. Although technology has been a part of human civilization from the beginning, its influence today is pervasive, affecting every aspect of human existence. The speed of technological change today, furthermore, is unprecedented. As the global community finds itself in the midst of what many have come to call the 4th Industrial Revolution, the impact of technology on society, and on the human condition, needs to be critically appraised and examined.
On the one hand, the 4th Industrial Revolution will generate ample opportunities for innovation that would benefit humanity. There can be no doubt that technological progress through rapid advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, personalized medicine, Internet of Things, blockchain, autonomous systems, and renewable energy promise a better tomorrow. Indeed, the global population continues to grow, and as many countries confront an ageing population, technological solutions will become increasingly important. On the other hand, technological change also brings forth formidable challenges to society and the environment. It disrupts established socio-political and economic patterns, and impacts human relationships and value.
Against this background, an NTU Institute of Science and Technology for Humanity (NISTH) has been established at NTU.
The institute seeks to establish NTU and Singapore as a centre of excellence in the Science, Technology and Society arena. As a leading global centre of science and engineering, NTU is home to cutting-edge innovation that drives scientific and technological change. Leveraging this advantage, NTU aims to take the lead in harnessing the power of technology for the benefit of society, which requires close collaboration between the arts and science, engineering and medicine, local government and international partnership.
Thematic Clusters
ISTH at NTU aims to propel