AsianScientist (Nov. 9, 2018) – With our unique ability to develop tools and bend the environment to our will, humans seem well positioned to overtake biological evolution. Just how did we arrive at this unique moment in evolutionary history, 14 billion years after the birth of the cosmos?
This question is addressed by a new book published by Wildtype Books, an imprint of Wildtype Media Group. Titled Sydney Brenner’s 10-on-10: The Chronicles of Evolution, this richly illustrated volume was launched on November 9, 2018, at the National Library of Singapore.
Graced by Singapore President Madam Halimah Yacob as the guest-of-honor, the exclusive book launch event was attended by over 100 guests including the book’s co-editors, Dr. Sim Shuzhen, senior editor at Asian Scientist Magazine, and Dr. Benjamin Seet, executive director of the Biomedical Research Council at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
“We must thank Sydney for conceiving the idea of 10-on-10, for giving us all the opportunity to have a small glimpse into how he perceives the world around him and for inspiring us to explore and better understand it,” Seet said.
The book celebrates the legacy of Nobel laureate Dr. Sydney Brenner, a 91-year-old genetics pioneer who discovered how to read the code of life. In 2017, Brenner initiated a year-long lecture series organized by A*STAR and the Para Limes Society of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), forming the basis of the book.
Each of the 24 chapters represents a critical evolutionary milestone in humanity’s journey to find their place in the universe—starting from the Big Bang (1010 years ago) to the present (101 years ago).
Experts who contributed to the book include Nobel laureate Jack Szostak, who studies the origin of biological life; complexity economics expert W. Brian Arthur, whose research focuses on the social and economic impact of technology and innovation; and social scientist Helga Nowotny, who studies the intersection of science, technology and society.
“Sydney Brenner’s 10-on-10: The Chronicles of Evolution is a truly unique book in terms of the breadth and depth of the ideas it contains,” said Dr. Juliana Chan, CEO of Wildtype Media Group. “We hope that the stories told in this volume will capture the imagination of the general public, and inspire a new generation of scientists, thinkers and doers.”
Hoping that the book’s stories will be shared with science students in Singapore, A*STAR chairman Mr. Lim Chuan Poh presented a copy of the book to Mr. Sin Kim Ho, divisional director at the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Planning and Development Division 1.
Lim also gave a copy of the book to Mr. Christian Raubach, head of client strategy office APAC, UBS Global Wealth Management, as a token of appreciation to UBS for gifting the books to countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Sydney Brenner’s 10-on-10: The Chronicles of Evolution is now available at Wildtype Books, Amazon.com and at Kinokuniya Singapore. Get your copy now!
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
