Not only that, but more than half of i-on’s microforecasts have garnered responses and engagement from other players.  A true conversation catalyst.  Congratulations, i-on!

For more on awards, achievement and recognition you could win with your forecasting, click here.

Here is a bit more context from Institute for the Future’s research into geoengineering scenarios:

Geoengineering intentionally manipulates the Earth’s systems to reduce the amount or impact of warming.  Among many, candidate paths toward this could include:

• decreasing how much sunlight (or insolation) hits the lower atmosphere by increasing the reflectivity (or albedo) of the upper atmosphere.  This might be done by emulating the effects of volcanoes through the injection of megatons of sulphate particles into the stratosphere.
• ocean iron fertilization to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere through induced algae blooms or cloud brightening, which pumps seawater into the lower atmosphere to increase cloud reflectivity

These only hint at the geoengineering approches, much less the challenges of monitoring and management that would follow if any of these paths were taken.  Player openthefuture asks, what role will chemists have in all of this?

What do you think?  How will you make the future in this sustainability forecast?  Click here to respond.

On the top right of your screen, you will see a link to “My Profile.” 

Click on My Profile, and you’ll see your total forecasting points, along with a breakdown of your strengths.  This highlights which cards you’re playing the most.  Are you focusing mostly on cool advances in robotics without forecasting what will be happening in sustainability by 2020? 

Only playing first-level forecasts, but not building on anyone else’s ideas by playing the follow-up cards? If so, try underscoring someone’s point by referencing something going on in the field with a “Check this out” card.  Have a spirited disagreement by playing a “No Way!” card.  Build momentum and riff on someone else’s idea with a “Couldn’t You Also?” card or ask for clarification with a “Tell Me More” card.

Remember, one valuable achievement in this game is to win “The Works” award for contributing all five types of micro-forecasts in a single experiment.  Are you thinking outside of the box?  Round out your strengths by playing a different type of card.

To play a follow-up or feedback card, click on a first level card, and see your options underneath. 

The world needs your outside of the box ideas in order to meet the challenges of the next decade!

Here is a quick entry point to bring you up to speed on the themes we’ve encountered so far on the Robotics for Sustainability ACS Signtific Lab thought experiment:

Hot zones to watch:

• Chemistry contributes to robotic frontiers: robots that learn about the chemical composition of their environment, robots using polymer “skin” for pressure sensitivity in medical robots, chemists pioneer better Rare Earth Element manufacturing processes for greater robot complexity, encapsulated mitochondriaconducting polymers for robotic facial expression, unmanned water robots to repair water pipes, polymer coatings for robotic devices & safety applications, encapsulated mitochondria generates ATP to drive bio-mechanical actuators for material & control of robot,
• Environment: toxic spills, chemists expanding battery energy storage capacities, environmental sensors become standard on robots, programmable material death, smart shingles, recycling,

• Chemistry for human quality of life: food fabbing, dishes you never wash, Cantu’s printable food, polymer electrolyte gels for muscle augmentation, eradicating hunger?, chemistry for access to food?

• Chemistry for our energy future: hybrid fuel cells for interplanetary exploration, DFT methods for energy, materials with built-in insulation, Thorium, clean hydrogen fuel,

• Unleveraged or underleveraged capabilities: new functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (Player kathivian asks how robotics will take advantage of this)

• New norms in 2020: benchtop combinatorial chemistry, high thruput screening & genomics for both hardware & software side of robotics, concern with chemical product life cycles & cradle-to-cradle approach

• 2020 Partners & collaborators: Who will chemists partner with to make these advances by 2020?, possible barriers to these partnerships?

Do you have some comments for drdoom? do you have your own ideas about chemistry, robotics, and sustainability.

Play a few cards and then click Leaderboard at the top of the Signtific Lab home page to see where you rank in the discussion.

Just click on the text of a card to go to the Follow-On page. Then you can use four cards to express your opinion:

If it’s already happening, tell your colleagues to CHECK THIS OUT.

Do you disgree? Play a NO WAY! card.

Maybe you have an idea that’s similar or an alternative, Tell us about it in a COULDN’T YOU ALSO? card.

And if you just want more information, or don’t understand, play a TELL ME MORE card.

Follow-on cards give you more points. Play a couple now!

Here you’ll find everything you need to know about how to play your cards, how to track your score, and how to keep up with the big themes that are emerging from this thought experiment.

But first things first. If you haven’t already registered to participate, go to Create your player. Then watch the video. Read the cards that others have already played. You can comment on them (you get extra points for playing a card on someone else’s card), or you can enter your own card.

Then, if you want to see how you’re doing, go to My Profile. Or if you want to see how everyone is doing, go to Leaderboard. As things progress, you can also check out the Great Ideas. All of these are available at the top of  the home page of ACS Signtific Lab.

Log in now. Tell us what you think about the future.