Some of the 'aha' insights that scientists strive for may have to await the emergence of post-human intellects.

We're devoted at this conference to looking at how we can best pair scientists with each other and with the communities to get this technology available quickly.

The Swedish engineer who invented the zip fastener made a greater intellectual leap than many scientists do in a lifetime.

Scientists habitually moan that the public doesn't understand them. But they complain too much: public ignorance isn't peculiar to science. It's sad if some citizens can't tell a proton from a protein. But it's equally sad if they're ignorant of their nation's history, can't speak a second language, or can't find Venezuela or Syria on a map.

Most practising scientists focus on 'bite-sized' problems that are timely and tractable. The occupational risk is then to lose sight of the big picture.

The conference is bringing the scientists and the researchers into the region where the biggest problem lies.