MIT President Susan Hockfield, at AAAS Forum, Envisions "Third Revolution" in Life Sciences

Researchers are fostering another revolution in the life sciences, driven by the convergence between those sciences and the physical and engineering sciences, Susan Hockfield, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told the recent AAAS Forum on Science & Technology Policy.

That convergence is producing new discoveries that hold promise in the fight against cancer, the search for new, more efficient batteries, the quest to better understand microbial life, and other challenges that can benefit from the collaboration of sharp minds from multiple disciplines.

"What began as a relationship of proximity and convenience has evolved into a strong, fruitful new synthesis," Hockfield said during a 30 April luncheon address at the Forum in Washington, D.C. "The seeds of a third revolution in the life sciences have certainly been sown, and in leading labs across the country, they already are beginning to bear fruit."

To learn more about Susan Hockfield's vision for the future of life sciences, read the full story.