£10m prize to solve greatest scientific problem

A £10 million prize has been launched by Nesta and the Technology Strategy Board to solve the greatest scientific problem facing the world today. The Longitude Prize – based on the 1714 Longitude Prize which saw the creation of the chronograph to help sailors pinpoint their position at sea – will see the British public vote for one of six themes compiled by experts across various fields. The themes are: Flight – how can we fly without damaging the environment? Food – how can we ensure everyone has nutritious sustainable food? Antibiotics – how can we prevent the rise of resistance to antibiotics? Paralysis – how can we restore movement to those with paralysis? Water – how can we ensure everyone has access to safe and clean water? Dementia – how can we help people with dementia live independently for longer? Each category will be examined in a special Horizon programme on 22^nd May, and after that a public vote will be opened. The favoured theme will be announced on 25^th June, and experts will then refine the details of the challenge, with anyone from around the world able to submit their solution. “If you want to solve a scientific problem, one method is to go to top universities and top scientists and ask them to solve it,” said Geoff Mulgan, chief executive of Nesta. “But over the years, and this was something pioneered by the Longitude Prize in the 18^th Century, it’s often better to open it up to anyone to come up with a solution.” The prise is being supported by the BBC, the National Maritime Museum, Science Museum and the National Schools Partnership. “This prize will challenge scientists to tackle one of today’s greatest scientific problems,” said David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science. “What makes this prize so innovative however, is that the public will be given the power to decide which area of science and society will benefit from this funding. This is everyone’s opportunity to play a part in what could be the next scientific milestone.” Wired Editor David Rowan, who is on the Longitude Committee, said: “The brilliant thing about the Longitude Prize is that we don’t know where the answer is going to come from. The crowd is smarter than any of us on the committee. And the beautiful thing about the internet is that by connecting people together, two plus two is five or five hundred. People come together in all sorts of extraordinary and unpredictable ways to solve problems and we want to see where this goes. Surprise us!”