 |
TectonicAuthor: Swissnex
With recent health, environmental, and economic crises, the capacity of humankind to innovate its way to a better future is, at times, in doubt. How are science and technology confronting our most foundational global challenges? How can we increase public trust in science? And what are the ethical and political challenges to charting a path of human progress in the 21st century? In this podcast, host Brendan Karch interviews thinkers, writers, scientists, policymakers, and researchers who are tackling these seismic questions. Tectonic is a production of Swissnex in Boston and New York, whose aim is to bring the leading ideas from our hub of academic inquiry to Switzerland and the world, in order to inspire new thinking across disciplinary and national boundaries. Language: en-us Genres: Science, Social Sciences, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
The Most Innovative Square Mile on Earth
Episode 2
Wednesday, 27 July, 2022
Massachusetts and Switzerland both often rank near the top of state and country innovation rankings. Key to this success are innovation zones, and none is more influential than Kendall Square – a small strip of former swampland in Cambridge, just across the river from Boston. These days it’s home to MIT and some of the most important biotech research on the planet, as well as pharmaceutical giants like Novartis and Moderna. Little wonder it’s been called ‘the most innovative square mile on earth.’Our guest on this episode, Bob Buderi, has just written a book on Kendall Square, Where Futures Converge. We talk with Bob about Kendall’s progression from marsh to factory zone to biotech hub, and how constant change was necessary to maintain a vibrant urban innovation ecosystem. We explore the Swiss connections in Kendall Square, and what makes the small, unofficial innovation zone tick. We also delve into the shortcomings of Kendall Square’s imbalanced growth. While it’s an amazing place to invent and innovate, it’s not a great community to live in. Bob explores how plans for affordable housing and artist space can transform Kendall Square into a more livable urban landscape in the future.
