Room A, 15:50-18:10, August 14, 2014

Panel Discussion on

The Role of Thermal Science in Meeting
Societal Challenges
Panelists
Yildiz Bayazitoglu

Dimos Poulikakos

Rice University

Swiss Federal Institute of Technologyin Zurich

Yogesh Jaluria
Rutgers University

Joon Sik LeePeter StephanTechnische Universitat Darmstadt

Seoul National University

Moderator Nobuhide Kasagi
Japan Science & Technology Agency / The University of Tokyo

Discussion

National Governance System of Science,
Technology and Innovation
Issue-driven
R&D

Policy Making &Science Advice
Ministries,
Funding Agencies

Resonance?

Universities, NationalLabs, Industry andBusiness
Seeds-push
R&D

Scientists, EngineersSciencecommunity

Question: Top-down vs Bottom-up ?
There is a trend that the research funding is formulated in aframework of issue-driven (top-down) R&D rather thanseeds-push (bottom-up) R&D in many countries.
However, a dilemma exists ……
1. Can we justify research funding and acquire public trust byparticipating in top-down research?
2. How to design, legitimate, implement, evaluate and pushforward issue-driven R&D?
3. How to cultivate and stimulate motivation of researchers andkeep science autonomy under such policy environment?

General Discussion

The Message from the PanelMessages from the Panel Needs for transdisciplinary collaboration in thermalscience to meet societal challenges
 Integrating fundamental thermal sciences with other disciplines(applied energy research, material sciences, …, and in somecases mathematics, sociology, economics) is definitely needed
for innovative and holistic solutions.
 Transdisciplinary research is quite complex and has somepositive and negative aspects and consequences.
 A good balance between disciplinary and transdisciplinary

research is needed as well as a good balance between top-down
topic definition and bottom-up approaches.

Messages from the Panel (contd.) Focus on “transformative energy technologies”

beyond pure heat transfer science The pathway to a sustainable energy future will include thedeployment of transformative/disruptive technologies.
 The development of such technologies requires a holistic way of

thinking across disciplines, accounting for socio-economical
geographical and political realities: No single recipe.
 The heat transfer community must define and claim its(currently diffuse) role in the competitive field of transformative
energy technologies.

Messages from the Panel (contd.) Thermal science needs to be deployed to enable

sustainable and safe energy supply with least
environmental impact
 Must play leadership role in environmental studies. Should workwith experts in environmental science and interact with government
to guide policy. Articulate research needs.
 Should lead collaboration with material scientists and industry todevelop cost effective methods for energy storage and for
fabricating and implementing renewable energy systems.
 Major thrust needed on reducing energy consumption in energy
intensive systems through optimization, with support from industry.

 Must get strongly involved in safety issues related to power
generation and utilization. Results should translate into policy.

Messages from the Panel (contd.)
Thermal engineering as a key in green growth as wellas environmental sustainability

 It is necessary to carefully identify the upbringing technologies inthermal engineering for the potential green-tech business.
 A strategic program should be developed for the high quality
research output from university to convert to tangible assets, andfinally to the successful business.
 To create new growth engines, an integrated approach isnecessary for coordinating R&D investment strategies, education,technology transfer for commercialization, and industrial
collaboration with research institutions.

Messages from the Panel (contd.) Renovation of teaching thermal science: An urgentmatter Students, faculty and administrators should work together to fully

exploit new digital technologies for faster information flow,interactive communication and evolving curricula.
 To create global knowledge capital of thermal science weshould continuously create an environment to teach thermalscience and engineering to public and to scientists and engineersof other disciplines.

Messages from the Panel (contd.) Issue-driven R&D strategy better balanced toseeds-push strategy in meeting societal challenges
 Identifying societal issues free from traditional disciplinary
boundary and institutional interests
 S&T goals defined clearly in terms of resolving the existingsocietal issues and implementing functions needed in the futuresociety to justify public funding Cultivate cross-disciplinary science and dynamic interaction
between basic and engineering sciences Promote collaboration of industry-academia-government
leading to innovation