3M State of Science Index

Dr. Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate
3M Company

Science matters to us – at 3M we care about science. We wanted to understand the public’s perception around science, so we conducted a global third-party study called the ‘3M State of Science Index’ and what we found is that science is largely underappreciated, invisible or taken-for-granted. People don’t seem to understand or acknowledge the role of science in their daily lives but have huge expectations for what it should deliver in the future. It is clear science needs advocates, especially since 4 out of 10 surveyed said that if science didn’t exist their lives wouldn’t be any different!

It is also apparent that the relationship of science with people is complex. In fact, 85% of people surveyed admit they know little to nothing about science, but the same percent wish they knew more. Moreover, 87% of the global community believes we need science to solve the world’s problems. Nearly 60% of people interested in science say that they believe scientific advancements will benefit future generations. It was also interesting and perhaps not surprising to see that women trail men in the positive sentiment of science and almost 60% view scientists are elitists.

Jayshree was appointed as 3M’s first-ever Chief Science Advocate and she will be sharing the results of this multi-year survey, what 3M is doing about it, and a call for action for all of us.

Competing in an Age of Digital Disorder: Technology, Turbulence and Transformation

Erik Peterson, Partner and Managing Director
A.T. Kearney Global Business Policy Council

Fasten your seatbelts. Soon, nothing associated with what we now call business or operations will be remotely the same as what we now understand. A confluence of economic, technology, social and environmental dynamics are disrupting our global business and the coming transformation will be end-to-end. Demand, production, operations, procurement, logistics, supply chain management, gig economy and the role of subcontractors, workforce development, and consumption – for starters – are all being redefined by key technologies now exploding on the market and influenced by the economic climate we face. Companies across the board – from manufacturing to retailing – will be tested as never before all of which have significant implications for the Adhesives business.