Exploration and exploitation of the deep-seas in search of marine minerals and genetic resources have over the past fifteen years received increased attention. Developments in sub-marine technologies, rising raw material prices and scarcity, and advancements in biotechnology, are changing the business-case for further investments in the marine environment. This report provides a state-of-play overview on exploring and exploiting deep-sea resources. A Cost-Benefit Analysis identifies the main potentials and challenges in a scenario where exploitation increases. Policy options are suggested to balance trade-offs between economic, social and environmental aspects associated with future developments. This STOA project 'Technology options for deep-seabed exploitation - Tackling economic,environmental and societal challenges' was carried out by Triple E Consulting and Milieu Ltd. at the request of the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel, within the Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (DG EPRS) of the General Secretariat of the European Parliament.

• Analyse approfondie

Auteur externe
Koen Rademaekers, Oscar Widerberg, Katarina Svatikova, Roel van der Veen - Triple E Consulting. Eleonora Panella - Milieu Ltd. Voir l'article...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. The Big Picture
nick shackleton-jones, aconventional, 2015/03/11
I love the diagram, and the concept is well-executed, but the word 'apps' stands out like a sore vendor-specific thumb. It shows up in the responses: "People have begun to grasp Journey 1, the journey from courses to resources, but still struggle with the journey from resources to apps." So why don't we fix the terminology:

• Courses - prepare you for the future ('remember these directions')
• Resources - support you in the moment ('use this map')
• Sources - guide your behaviour ('use the SatNav')

It's a slightly different take on the meaning of 'source'. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Debunking the Myth about a Creative Destruction of Higher Education with Technology as the Driver
Unattributed, Contact North, 2015/03/11

The central premise of this post is that "while it is the case that technology is sneaking into the nooks and crannies of the post-secondary system, it is not producing transformative change." Looking at the evidence itself - from the structure of universities to the nature of assessment - the author argues that little has changed in universities. More...