Mars, Incorporated addresses role of collaboration in science with expert panel at Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Mars hosted the discussion, which featured the views of Continuum Energy Technologies (CET) – a research company that aims to further understanding of the foundations of physics, which could lead to the development of environmentally-sound solutions to a range of issues, such as supply-chain sustainability. The panel included Dudley Herschbach (Chemistry Nobel Laureate), Chris Nagel (Founding Scientist of CET) and Amanda Peter Randles (a PhD student from Harvard University).

Harold Schmitz, Chief Science Officer at Mars, introduced the event by outlining the company’s approach to science and the importance of uncommon collaboration between academic, government, non-government and industry sectors in tackling global challenges. Against this background, the panel discussed in-depth the merits and potential difficulties of an open and collaborative research approach. The discussion built on a number of themes from the Mars-hosted panel at the 2010 Lindau meeting, which explored Mars’ collaborative approach to the cacao genome sequencing project. The full findings from the cacao genome project were released into the public domain in 2010 in order to accelerate advances in the field for the benefit of cocoa farmers worldwide.

This year’s panelists shared examples from the world of physics to highlight how cross-sector partnerships can create a platform from which breakthrough scientific concepts can be appropriately debated, tested and validated in order to accelerate the development of solutions to many of society’s grand challenges.

The panel discussion – which was moderated by Adam Smith, the Editorial Director of Nobel Media – was followed by a lively Q&A session with the international audience of young scientists.

Quotes:

Mars approach to science

Speaking after the panel discussion, Harold Schmitz, Chief Science Officer at Mars, Incorporated commented: “As one of the world’s leading food companies, Mars sees cross-sector scientific collaboration as crucial in driving innovation and tackling a wide range of social, economic and environmental challenges faced by our business and society as a whole.”

Nobel Laureate Dudley Herschbach on the Mars-hosted panel discussion

“Events such as this offer a unique opportunity for dialogue that not only crosses sectors and disciplines, but also moves across generations,” said Nobel Laureate Dudley Herschbach. “By engaging with tomorrow’s leading thinkers, we are equipping ourselves to deal with the challenges we face – both today, and in the future.”

Mars relationship with Lindau:

Mars entered into its engagement with the Lindau organization in 2007. In 2008, Pamela Mars, member of the Mars board of directors, was appointed to the honorary senate of the Lindau Foundation in recognition of Mars’ history of scientific achievement. Last year, Mars hosted a panel discussion at the Lindau meeting on ‘Productive Partnerships’ which featured the views of Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn and Frank Mars, President of Mars Symbioscience – the global health and life sciences segment of Mars. In 2010, the Mars-hosted panel discussion addressed the role of science in society and involved Laureate Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Howard-Yana Shapiro, Global Staff Officer of Plant Science and External Research at Mars.

About The Nobel Laureate Meetings at Lindau:

27 Nobel Laureates and more than 580 young scientists from 69 countries will participate in the 62nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Physics) from 1 to 6 July 2012. The topics of this year’s physics meeting include cosmology, particle physics and the challenges of a sustainable energy supply and climate issues. The Lindau Meetings have been taking place every year since 1951 in Lindau. They are organised by the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings established in 1954 and the Foundation Lindau Nobelprizewinners Meetings at Lake Constance established in 2000. More than 250 Nobel Laureates are members of the Founders Assembly.

For more information, please visit www.lindau-nobel.org/