Joël de Rosnay
Encyclopedia
Joël de Rosnay Ph.D
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, is a Mauritian-born French
futurist, science writer, and molecular biologist.
Former research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) in the field of biology and computer graphics
, he was successively science attaché
to the French Embassy in the United States, and Scientific Director of European Enterprises Development Company (a venture capital
group) from 1971 to 1975. From 1975 to 1985 he was Director of Research Applications at l'Institut Pasteur (the Pasteur Institute in Paris
). Until 2002, he was Director of Forecasting
and Assessment at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
in Paris, where he remains a special adviser. He is presently President of Biotics International, a consulting company specialized in the impact of new technologies on industries.
De Rosnay has written many popular books and essays on molecular biology
, the sciences of complexity
, emerging information technology
, and their implications for the future evolution of humanity. Most of these are listed on his webpage, "Crossroads to the future". He was one of the first to understand the role of the Internet
in promoting the emergence of a global brain
. Some of his books, such as The Macroscope and The Symbiotic Man (1995) (ISBN 0071357440), have been translated into English. He regularly appears on French TV and is interviewed by the media as a specialist in explaining complex new scientific developments to a lay audience.
His last book La Révolte du pronetariat (pronetaire) talks largely about the Wiki
, the era of media of masses.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, is a Mauritian-born French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
futurist, science writer, and molecular biologist.
Former research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT) in the field of biology and computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
, he was successively science attaché
Science attaché
A science attaché is a member of a diplomatic mission, usually an embassy...
to the French Embassy in the United States, and Scientific Director of European Enterprises Development Company (a venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
group) from 1971 to 1975. From 1975 to 1985 he was Director of Research Applications at l'Institut Pasteur (the Pasteur Institute in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
). Until 2002, he was Director of Forecasting
Forecasting
Forecasting is the process of making statements about events whose actual outcomes have not yet been observed. A commonplace example might be estimation for some variable of interest at some specified future date. Prediction is a similar, but more general term...
and Assessment at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is the biggest science museum in Europe. Located in Parc de la Villette in Paris, France, it is at the heart of the Cultural Center of Science, Technology and Industry , a center promoting science and science culture.About five million people visit the Cité...
in Paris, where he remains a special adviser. He is presently President of Biotics International, a consulting company specialized in the impact of new technologies on industries.
De Rosnay has written many popular books and essays on molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, the sciences of complexity
Complexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
, emerging information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, and their implications for the future evolution of humanity. Most of these are listed on his webpage, "Crossroads to the future". He was one of the first to understand the role of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
in promoting the emergence of a global brain
Global brain
The Global Brain is a metaphor for the worldwide intelligent network formed by people together with the information and communication technologies that connect them into an "organic" whole...
. Some of his books, such as The Macroscope and The Symbiotic Man (1995) (ISBN 0071357440), have been translated into English. He regularly appears on French TV and is interviewed by the media as a specialist in explaining complex new scientific developments to a lay audience.
His last book La Révolte du pronetariat (pronetaire) talks largely about the Wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
, the era of media of masses.