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Mapping Wild Cards

Inspired by: FP7 » Global clean water problems solved in dry but sunny offshore areas via algae production

version: 2 / updated: 2011-01-27
id: #1510 / version id: #573
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Tuomo Kuosa
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Maurizio Sajeva
WI-WE status:
unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

European Commission Framework Programme for RTD (FP7)

Theme/activity of inspiration

Theme 2 - Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology

Sub-theme/area of inspiration

Increased sustainability of all production systems (agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture)

Headline

(max. 9 words)

Global clean water problems solved in dry but sunny offshore areas via algae production

Description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Wild Card (approx. 150 words)
Algae production plants in sunny offshore areas become huge industrial areas which produce not only huge quantities of biofuels, but also lots of electricity and clean water from sea water. Global clean water problem is suddenly solved. Formally uninhabited areas become new engines of world economy.

Keywords

algae, energy, biofuel, electricity, clean water

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)

Algae production plants in sunny offshore areas become huge industrial areas which produce not only huge quantities of biofuels, but also lots of electricity and clean water from sea water. Global clean water problem is suddenly solved.

Likelihood

Closest timeframe for at least 50% likelihood
Please use one of the following options:
now-2025

Features of life if the wild card manifests

Feature 5: politics and global affairs
new tensions
Feature 6: health and quality of life
clean water problem is solved
Feature 7: security and defence
threat of bioterrorism

Type of event

Human planned (e.g. terrorist attack or funded scientific breakthrough)

Type of emergence

please select (if any) describe related trend or situation
A new development/situation
(e.g. a Romani state is established in central Europe; A message from an alien civilisation existing on a distant planet is received and understood, etc.

Type of systems affected

Human-built Systems - E.g. organisations, processes, technologies, etc.

Classification

Desirable

Importance

please specify:
please select
Level 4: important for the whole world

Latent phase

Obstacles for early indentification

cultural/religious filters (values, traditions, faith, spiritual beliefs)
economic filters (business/market interests)
scientific filters (knowledge/technology access)
social filters (class, status, education level)

Manifestation phase

Type of manifestation

In a probably pervasive way (contagious or transmittable)

Aftermath phase

Important implications
Transformation of a system (e.g. new applications, change in stakeholders relations/influence)

Key drivers or triggers

Provide up to 2 possible drivers or triggers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
please describe
Driver / Trigger 1
please describe
Driver / Trigger 2
Technological/Scientific breakthrough

Relevance for Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Food security and diet
Sustainability and climate change
Water security/vulnerability

Relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Regional development
Science in society

Pan-European strategies potentially helping to deal with the wild card

please justify:
particularly relevant
Improving researchers mobility and career development by, for example, realising a single labour market for researchers.
Strengthening research institutions and universities
Fostering and facilitating coherent international cooperation in science and technology

 Features of a research-friendly ecology contributing to deal with the wild card

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here

please justify:
particularly relevant
Overcoming sub-criticality and systemic failures
To be subcritical means that the effort in a particular field or subfield lacks resources, equipment or a sufficient number of researchers to achieve a desired goal
Creating a closer link between researchers & policy-makers
(e.g. supporting both thematic and cross-cutting policies, highlighting the strategic purpose of the European Research Area, etc.