What are the main scientific challenges of the first half of the 21st century? Can we establish priorities for the future? How should the scientific community address them? These books present the reflections of the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) on 14 strategic themes established according to their scientific impact and social importance.
Fundamental questions such as the origin of life, the exploration of the universe, artificial intelligence, the development of clean; safe; and efficient energies, or the understanding of how the brain works are addressed. The volumes identify complex challenges in areas such as health and social sciences, and the selected strategic themes cover both basic questions and potential applications of knowledge, with the Sustainable Development Goals being an articulating element of the scientific challenges, in line with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Almost 1,200 researchers from over 115 CSIC centers and other institutions (public research organizations, universities, etc.) participated in this analysis. They all agree on the need for a multidisciplinary approach and the promotion of collaborative research to enable the implementation of ambitious projects focused on specific topics.
These 14 White Books, published by Editorial CSIC, serve as a reference framework for developing the institution's scientific strategy, providing an insight into the research being conducted at the CSIC and, at the same time, building a global vision of the main scientific challenges in the next decade.
