International Conference on Transition to a New Society

International Conference

TRANSITION TO A NEW SOCIETY

Supported By

Under patronage of Mr. Milo Đukanović, Prime minister of Montenegro 

20-22 March 2014, Podgorica, Montenegro

Concept | Agenda | Time Schedule

Podgorica Declaration (Adopted on 21st March by the Participants in the conference)

Background

Human society is currently undergoing changes of a nature unprecedented in both magnitude and intensity. The outcome of this development will be a different type of civilization based mainly on knowledge, information, communication and most importantly, mobility. One of the main difficulties in this transition is the emerging gap between the accelerating pace of technological change and the slower pace of cultural evolution. The changes in technology, in turn, are closely connected to broader issues, including political and economic change, energy concerns, natural resources, food supply, health, individual quality of life, and many more.

This conference focused on three major topics: A. Political and Economic Change; B. Environment, Energy and Sustainability, and C. Humans and Machines. 

A. Political and economic change

  • One world – many regions;
  • Nation-state vs. region-state;
  • Globalism vs. anti-globalism, Global vs. local regulation;
  • Capitalism and its association to a global free market and private economic sector, measure of progress;
  • Democratization of international institutions with reference to individuals and supranational institutions;
  • Social justice and private property;
  • International institutions and participation;
  • Ethnic localism and religion, fear of loss of identity;
  • Social networks as limitations to official politics;
  • Emphasis on cooperation over competition.

B. Environment, energy and sustainability

  • Biodiversity, deforestation, loss of arable land;
  • Land use, pollution, water scarcity, and waste management;
  • Climate change, and energy problems;
  • Agriculture, biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs);
  • Natural resources, market economy and sustainability;
  • Urbanization and human habitats;
  • Population issues: growth, distribution, quality of life;
  • Food supply.

C. Humans and machines

  • Social implications of emerging technologies: substitution of humans with technical devices, humans and information technology, humans and artificial intelligence, the development and potential of new devices such as smartphones and 3D printers as well as inexpensive clever technology;
  • Technology-enabled social control;
  • Limits to human-machine interaction: robots and human emotion, human intelligence and artificial intelligence, possibilities and limits;
  • Adaptability to technological changes (The Reactive Response, The Adaptive Response);
  • Technology and ethics;
  • Technology and democracy.

AGENDA
19 March
Arrival of participants
Accommodation :
Hotel City, Crnogorskih serdara 5,
Hotel Ramada, Blv. Save Kovačevića 74, Podgorica.
20 March 
8:40 Bus to Conference venue (Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, Rista Stijovića 5,Podgorica)
9:00 - 10:00

OPENING of the Conference

Addresses:

Momir Đurović, President, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU)

Felix Unger, President, European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA)

Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, President, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)

Ed Noort, Vice President, European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA-All European Academies)

Jiří Beneš, International Union of Academies, Union Académique Internationale (IUA/UAI)

Zhores Ivanovich Alferov, Nobel Prize laureate in physics, Vice president, Russian Academy of Sciences

Dear Prof. Djurovic, To my regret, I have to inform you that due to health issues I will not be able to participate in the conference „Transition to a New Society” in Podgorica. I have an important eye surgery that is scheduled for the second half of March, and unfortunately, I cannot leave St Petersburg during that period. I wish you all the success in the organization of the Conference!

Yours sincerely, Zhores Alferov
 10:00 - 10:30

Montenegrin taste (degustation of organic products made by traditional recipes)
 10:30 - 13:00

 Session I: GENERAL TOPICS, 1st part                               

In chair: Garry Jacobs, Perko Vukotić

  1. Pieter J.D. Drenth, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Honorary President of ALLEA
    Responsibilities of the Scientists in a World in Transition
  2. Ullica Segerstralle, fellow of WAAS; Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
    Futuristic scenarios and human nature
  3. Rudolf Rizman, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
    The Paradox of Social Transition: Where Are Alternatives?
  4. Winston P. Nagan, trustee of WAAS; University of Florida, Levin College of Law
    The Global Rule of Law, Social Justice and the Commons
  5. Orio Giarini, trustee of WAAS, Editor in chief of CADMUS journal; Director of the Risk Institute (Trieste-Geneva)
    Facing uncertainty in the new economy
  6. Garry Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of WAAS, Vice President, The Mother’s Service Society, Pondicherry, India
    New Paradigm in Education for Human Development
  7. Philippe Galiay, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
    Human brains meta-network: capital’s ultimate avatar of the new society?
  8. Andreas Bummel, fellow of WAAS; Council member, World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy; co-founder, International Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
    A World Parliament and the transition from international law to world law
  9. Hermes Andreas Kick, member of EASA; IEPG - Institute for Medical Ethics, Basic Principles and Methods of Psychotherapy and Sanitary Culture, Mannheim
    Crisis of European Identity – Crisis of Institutions: Can Interactive Institutions Help?
  10. Alex Skalenko, Institute of World Economy and International Relations of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, International Academy of Information Technology at UN 
    Globally systemic crisis of the transinformational civilization
Discussion 
 13:00 Bus to Hotels 
 13:15 - 14:45 Lunch at the Hotels 
 14:45 Bus to Conference Venue 
 15:00 - 18:45

Parallel Sessions II and III      
(Rectorate of University of Montenegro, Džordža Vašingtona bb) 
THEATRE: A    
 15.00 – 16.45

Session II:  POLITICAL and ECONOMICAL  CHANGES

In chair: Vlado Kambovski, Oksana Sliusarenko

  1. Erich Hoedl, Vice-president, European Academy of Sciences and Arts
    European transiton into a socio-ecological market economy
  2. Vlado Kambovski, President, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
    A new “social contract” on capitalism with a human face
  3. Anton Jamnik, Faculty of Theology, Ljubljana
    Business ethics as new challenge in modern economy
  4. Alexander Ruser, Hertie School of Governance GmbH, Berlin
    Knowledge-driven politics or political motivated knowledge distribution? The influence of environmental think tanks on national climate politics
  5. Miloš Trifković, Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
    The impact of globalization on bilateral investment treaties and their models – the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina
  6. Božidar Jezernik, University of Ljubljana
    Slovene Catholic Church between Religion and Politics
  7. Hans Göttel, Europahaus Burgenland, Austria
    Managing Conflicts or Tuning Up to Higher Principles?

Discussion
 16:45 - 17:00 Coffee Break 
 17:00 - 18:45

POLITICAL and ECONOMICAL CHANGES (continuation)  

In chair: Erich Hoedl, Miloš Trifković 

  1. Oksana Sliusarenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Montenegro
    Innovative development as part of the structure transformation of the economy
  2. Yehuda Kahane, fellow of WAAS; Founder and COB YK Center for Reboot and Prosperity; Tel Aviv University, Israel
    Discussion of Some Elements of the "New Economy"
  3. Saša Popović, fellow of WAAS, Faculty of Economics, Podgorica
    Transition to a New Society - Resource Efficiency Perspective
  4. Naim Afgan, fellow of WAAS; Islamic Academy of Sciences; Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Transition of culture system resilience index
  5. Milica Kostić, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, (CANU)
    Challenges to small countries in the future  
  6. Anastas Angjeli, Academy of Science of Albania, Mediterranean University 
  7. of Albania, member of the Albanian Parliament
    A New Economic Model which Maximizes the Economic Freedom
Discussion 
THEATRE: B 
 15:00 - 16:45

Session III: LIVING ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY and  SUSTAINABILITY

In chair: Naim Afgan, Maks Babuder 

  1. Loucas G. Christophorou, Academy of Athens
    Energy, environment and modern civilization
  2. Lorenzo Gascon, fellow of WAAS, Royal Academy of Economical Science and Finances (RACEF), Spain
    Thinking aloud about  the climate change
  3. Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis, fellow of WAAS; Biopolitics International Organization, Greece
    Biopolicy for a New Society of Hope - Guidelines and Paradigms for Change
  4. Zbigniew Bochniarz, trustee of WAAS; Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
    Emergence of the Global Environmental Market: Dynamics, Drivers, Prospects for Growth and Impacts
  5. Giorgi Kvesitadze, President, Georgian National Academy of Sciences
    Plant as a main tool in creation of ecological balance
  6. Mirjana Radović-Marković, fellow of WAAS; Institute for Economic Studies, Belgrade, Genetically modified foods vs.  organic foods: is there a conflict between health and profit?
  7. Grazyna Lesniak – Lebkowska, Warsaw School of Economics, Institute of Management
    Business motivations to expand the environmentally friendly market and practices
  8. Maks Babuder, Electroinstitute "Milan Vidmar", Ljubljana
    Updated methodology in assessment of transmission line environmental impact 
Discussion 
 16:45 - 17:00 Coffee Break 
 17:00 - 18:45

LIVING ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY and SUSTAINABILITY (continuation)              

In chair: Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis, Zbigniew Bochniarz

  1. Peter F. McGrath, coordinator of IAP and IAMP
    Biodiversity and Pollination: Insecticide Bans, Politics and Reform
  2. Alberto Zucconi, trustee, Executive Board of WAAS, director of the World University Consortium, president of the Person Centered Institute (IACP), Rome
    Stop wasting the best natural resource of every nation: Their own people 
  3. Jan W. Dobrowolski, fellow of WAAS; AGH University of Science and Technology, Wydz.GGiIS, AGH Open University
    Methodological experiences of 45 years activity for sustainable development and common action of experts and knowledge based society for promotion of innovative green economy 
  4. Lucjan Pawlowski, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Poland
    Can biofuels be sustainable source of energy
  5. Evanghelos Moutsopoulos, Academy of Athens
    Urbanization, the Case of Greece
  6. Volodymyr Iemelianov, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
    An underwater marine eco-tourism as an integrator of science, education, recreation, and a factor for sustainable development of coastal areas of maritime states 
Discussion
 18:45 Bus to Hotels 
 19:30 Bus to Boat-restaurant
 20:00

GALA DINNER, given by Patron of the Conference, Prime minister of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Đukanović          
(Skadar lake cruising on boat-restaurant) 
21 March
9:00 - 12:30 Parallel sessions: Continuation of Session III, Session IV/ Session V                            
(Rectorate of University of Montenegro)
THEATRE: A
9:00 - 10:30

Session III: LIVING ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY and SUSTAINABILITY (continuation)    

In chair: Alberto Zucconi, Peter McGrath

  1. Antonio Sgamellotti, Accademia dei  Lincei, IAP
    Ancient and contemporary artworks in the context of urbanization and human habitats
  2. Jan Šafanda, Vice-president, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic
    Geothermal energy as a solution of the city air pollution – an example from Czechia 
  3. Simon J. Simonian, member of EASA; Peace and Social Action Committee, Santa Monica Friends Society, California
    An example of transition to a new improved society in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA using community cooperation
  4. Gerald Gutenschwager, School of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis, Research fellow, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
    Urban Planning Theory and the Role of Doxiadis’ Theory of Ekistics
  5. Vesna Baltezarević, member of EASA; Megatrend University, Faculty for Culture and Media, Belgrade
    Manipulation of reality into the food of the future
  6. Zita Izakovicova, Director, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
    Landscape-ecological approach to the biodiversity protection
  7. Julius Oszlanyi, member of EASA; Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
    The consequences of long-term and recent changes of agriculture to the land use, grassland vegetation and selected invertebrates in the marginal mountain region of Slovakia 
Discussion
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:30

Session IV: RELATED TOPICS                                    

In chair: Ivo Šlaus, Juri Engelbrecht

  1. Antonello Folco Biagini, Vice Rector, Sapienza University of Rome
    The Italian-Montenegrin Relationship: a historical perspective
  2. Grigore Belostecinic, Rector, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova
    Competitive Universities for a Competitive Society
  3. Zoran Lakić, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU)
    Ethnic Localism and Orthodoxy 
  4. Giuseppe Caglioti, fellow of WAAS, Professor Emeritus – Structure of matter, Energy Department, Polytechnics of Milan
    Transformations of physical systems and transitions of human society
  5. Kosta Barjaba, Academy of Sciences of Albania, European University of Tirana
    Migration and social changes: case of Albanian Diasporas of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  6. Faris Gavrankapetanović, fellow of WAAS; Institute for health insurance Canton Sarajevo
    Aging population – health insurance or challenge of aging for social security
  7. Jakob von Uexkull, MA Oxon, Founder, The World Future Council (WFC)
    Political and Economic Change - A New Human Story
Discussion
THEATRE : B
9:00 - 10:30

Session V: HUMANS and MACHINES                                  

In chair: Gilbert Fayl, Ullica Segestrale

  1. Marco Aurelio de Castro Junior, fellow of WAAS; Federal University of Brazil, Bahia, Salvador
    Law and post humanity - when robots will become subjects of legal rights
  2. Fiorella Battaglia, Department of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and the Study of Religion, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich
    How do novel technical options challenge the concept of moral responsibility? 
  3. Ljupčo Kocarev, Vice-president, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
    The Internet and the Web: how they have changed our life
  4. Tatiana Tchouvileva, fellow of WAAS; Faculty of Design, Polytechnics of Milan
    Adaptation of Aesthetic Taste to Technological Changes
  5. Dragoljub Mirjanić, Secretary general, Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska
    The influence of clean technologies on new society
  6. Carl Edwin Lindgren, fellow of WAAS; Royal Society of Arts; President, American College of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Mississippi, Como, USA
    Brain enhancement in the 21st century, Potential Neurophysiological Changes in Brain Structure through Neuroenhancers, Nootropic Agents and Organic/Electronic Components
Discussion
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:30

HUMANS and MACHINES (continuation)                  

In chair: Dragoljub Mirjanić, Ljupčo Kocarev

  1. Gudar Beqiraj, Academy of Sciences of Albania;
    Neki Frasheri, Polytechnic University of Tirana
    Contradictory sides of information technology for development
  2. Igor Đurović, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU)
    Will technological society be inhuman?
  3. Valeriy Zaporozhan, Vice-President, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Chairman, Committee on Bioethics of the NAMS, Rector, Odessa National Medical University
    Nooethics as modern stage of global bioethics
  4. Perko Vukotić, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
    Some issues and concerns about impact of advanced technologies on human beings and society
Discussion
12:30 Bus to Hotels
12:45 - 14:15 Lunch
14:15 Bus to Conference Venue (Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts)
14:30 - 16:00

Session VI: GENERAL TOPICS, 2nd part                          
                               
In chair: Garry Jacobs, Ed Noort

  1. Ed Noort, Vice-president, ALLEA
    Role of academies in Europe and ALLEA´s position and activities
  2. Gilbert Fayl, President, The Global Round Table
    A New Renaissance for Europe?
  3. Rajko Kuzmanović, President, Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska
    Controversies on the road of transition  to a new society
  4. Ljubiša Rakić, Vice-president, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
    Cooperation as prerequisite for science development
  5. Ruben Nelson, fellow of WAAS, Executive Director, Foresight Canada
    An Exploration of the Root Paradigm of the Modern/Industrial Form of Civilization
Discussion
16:00 - 16:15 Coffee Break
16:15 - 19:00

GENERAL TOPICS, 2nd part (continuation)

  1. Juri Engelbrecht, fellow of WAAS; Estonian Academy of Sciences
    Networks, mobility and young researchers
  2. Dušan Gálik, Scientific Secretary, Slovak Academy of Sciences
    Lassitude from Democracy
  3. João Caraça, fellow of WAAS; Director, Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian – Délégation en France, Paris
    Is globalisation being trapped?
  4. Maureen O'Hara, fellow of WAAS; National University, La Jolla, California, USA
    A "indigenous psychology" a global century
  5. Kada Allab, President, Algerian Academy of Science and Technology
    The Impacts of the Algerian Academy of Sciences and Technology on the Society
Discussion
  Closing remarks:
Ivo Šlaus, Honorary President of WAAS          
Momir Đurović, President of Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
 19:00 Bus to Hotels
  Free evening
 22 March: Social day (Short sightseeing tour of Montenegro)
 8:30 Bus Departure 
 17:00 Return to Hotels 
The offer is on the “first come first serve” basis. There are 48 seats on the bus. (Tour description: Cetinje, old capital (visit to cultural-historical places), Lovćen serpentines, Kotor (on UNESCO list of world cultural heritage protection), Budva, Skadar lake, Podgorica.

OPTIONAL - 22 March
 8:15  Bus to Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
 8:30 - 13:30 Special Session of World University Consortium (WUC)    
in chair: Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, Garry Jacobs
 8:30 - 10:00

Session I: Need for a New Paradigm in Education

  • Purpose of education & its role in social evolution
  • Global Higher Education today – a status overview
  • Challenges – Accessibility, Affordability, Quality, Employability
10:15 – 11:45

 Session II: Emerging Trends & Opportunities

  • Revolution in Online Higher Education
  • Pioneering Initiatives
  • Shift from Teaching to Learning
  • Interactivity
  • Multi-language
  • Person-centered education
  • Independent Thinking, Creativity, Leadership, Individuality
  • Life-long learning
12:00 - 13:30

 Session III: Envisioning the Future

  • Design concepts for a world-class global delivery system
  • Role for WAAS and WUC
13:30 Bus to hotels           
Departure of participants

23 March - Departure of participants

Report on the Second MASA Conference in Podgorica

Momir Djurovic

Human society is currently undergoing changes of a nature unprecedent in magnitude and intensity. The outcome of this development will be a different type of civilization based mainly on knowledge, information, communication and most importantly, social mobility. One of the main difficulties in this transition is the growing gap between the accelerating pace of technological change and the slower pace of cultural, social and spiritual evolution. The changes in technologies, in turn, are linked to broader issues, including political and economic change, energy, natural resources, food supply, health, individual quality of life, and many others.

The conference Transition to a New Society was conducted from 20-22 March 2014 in Podgorica, Montenegro, hosted and organized by Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts in collaboration with the World Academy, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA), and the All European Academies (ALLEA). About 100 participants were drawn from more than 30 countries and the conference included 24 Fellows of WAAS.

The conference focused on three major topics: Political and Economic Change, Environment, Energy and Sustainability and Humans and Machines. The opening session was addressed by the Prime Minister of Montenegro and the Presidents of WAAS, EASA, MASA, ALLEA, UIA (International Union of Academies).

Presentations and discussion centered on questions related to the challenges posed by the emerging global context, the nature of the new paradigm that is needed, and strategies for bringing it. Papers examined issues related to the social and moral responsibility of scientists for building a new world, possible scenarios for transition, the role of education and human development, uncertainty and transition, socio-ecological business, ethics and new economy, identity and world law, religion and politics, climate change, the global environmental market, health, food, problems of urbanization and human habitats, energy, land use, robotics, technology, networking, mobility and the role of young scientists. Proceedings of the conference are being prepared for publication. 

On March 22 a special session was organized to introduce the World University Consortium and discuss the role it can play in the development of new design concepts for a world-class system of higher education accessible to all human beings.

Momir Djurovic
President, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences & Arts;
Trustee, World Academy of Art & Science 

Podgorica Declaration (Adopted by Participants on 21st March)

Background Papers:

  1. Aging population – health insurance or challenge of aging for social security by Faris Gavrankapetanovic
  2. Controversies on the road of transition to a new society by Rajko Kuzmanović
  3. Discussion of Some Elements of the "New Economy" by Yehuda Kahane
  4. Facing uncertainty in the new economy by Orio Giarini
  5. Genetically modified foods vs.  organic foods: is there a conflict between health and profit? by Mirjana Radović-Marković and Carl Lindgren
  6. Methodological experiences of 45 years activity for sustainable development and common action of experts and knowledge based society for promotion of innovative green economy by Jan W. Dobrowolski
  7. Responsibilities of the Scientists in a World in Transition by Pieter J Drenth
  8. Stop wasting the best natural resource of every nation: Their own people - Presentation by Alberto Zucconi
  9. Stop wasting the best natural resource of every nation: Their own people - Abstract by Alberto Zucconi
  10. The Future of Scientific Probing and Social Being - Abstract by Ljudmila Popovich
  11. Transformations of physical systems and transitions of human society by Giuseppe Caglioti
  12. Transition to a New Society - Resource Efficiency Perspective by Saša Popović
  13. The Global Rule of Law, Social Justice and the Commons by Winston Nagan
  14. A World Parliament and the Transition from International Law to World Law by Andreas Bummel
  15. European Transition Into A Socio-Ecological Market Economy by Erich Hoedl
  16. Resource Productivity and Economic Wealth by Erich Hoedl
  17. Futuristic Scenarios by Ullica Segerstrale

Garry Jacobs and Perko Vukotic

Garry Jacobs, Perko Vukotic & Winston Nagan