Ten leaders brainstorm U.S. global leadership at Rockefeller University

Ten technology, business, academic and government heavyweights gathered at Rockefeller University in New York City today at the Newsweek Executive Forum “Global Leadership Conference on Science, Technology and Education" to brainstorm: “Can America Compete” and “Keeping the Lead.”

Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC Nightly News, as moderator of “Keeping the Lead, The Global Challenge to Stay Ahead with Innovation, Education and Science,” started the day with a humorous, but pointed, Rock Center water cooler anecdote. Passing a young iPod earbud sporting colleague in the NBC offices hallway, Williams sought to greet him and the colleague removed one earbud to acknowledge Williams, while nevertheless continuing his iPod activities. The young colleague went on to explain the “time-shifting”, “place-shifting” iPod community and that he was listening to a NPR show, as it had aired over the weekend at a time that wasn’t convenient for him. Williams then detailed the young colleague’s seemingly self-absorbed banter in an effort to spark a debate along the realm of Hillary Clinton’s recent politically incorrect gaffe, young people today "think work is a four-letter word.”

Williams proceeded to engage the four panelists:

• Steven Levy, Senior Editor, Newsweek
• Paul Horn, Senior Vice President and Director, IBM Research
• Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist
• John Marburger III, Science Adviser to the President and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

While Steven Levy and John Marburger provided interesting insights into the roles media and government play in shaping a national discussion on science, technology and education, Paul Horn and Craig Newmark relayed their hands-on perspectives of today’s tech world.

Paul Horn, as leader of IBM Research, believes in the power of services science to “fuel the economy.” He indicated that despite the current advertising related successes of Google and Yahoo, their future success will come from using the Web as a platform for simple services to enable businesses to be more competitive.

Craig Newmark, speaking from his citizen activist perspective, rather than as the founder of Craigslist, emphasized the dual nature of the Web’s open access: it empowers democracy by enabling individual voices, but also powers mass disinformation efforts. Newmark also stressed his belief in the importance of net neutrality and government non-interference.

Throughout the session, Williams interjected pithy comparisons of “real” journalists versus bloggers. Williams proudly noted that while someone named “Spike,” blogging in his bathrobe in Brooklyn, may consult Wikipedia before posting, he, himself, fact checks before going on air by consulting real, hard bound encyclopedias, in real office libraries.

Responding to Williams' surprisingly tame “is the glass half-full, or half-empty” concluding query, the panelists generally put forth a net positive prognosis for the U.S. Newmark’s finale, however, was both poetic and telling, a Vernor Vinge phrase from “Rainbows End”: “heavenly minefield,” suggesting that either good or evil will be played out through our own virtual hands.

Here is Part II of the Global Leadership Conference:

"Politics Takes the Stage at U.S. Global Leadership Conference at Rockefeller University"

Here is my "Craig Newmark Serving Customers at Craigslist" Interview

Are we in a “heavenly minefield?” Join the conversation: “Talk Back” below to share your thoughts.