412 19.What Does the Future Hold? materials will probably be studied more intensely in the future than they have been in the past. The storage of energy in batteries,etc.,is at present most ineffi- cient and requires bulky devices.New techniques will probably be discovered that raise the energy to mass ratio and increase the efficiency by involving a plasma technology,which is harnessed in containers consisting of high-temperature resistant materials. Materials may be found which,when weakened by fatigue or cracking,will activate a self-healing mechanism that returns the material,while in use,to its originally intended properties without external intervention. New types of trees or plant species will be genetically engi- neered which can be harvested in about 7-8 years rather than in the present 30-year time interval. The process of photosynthesis may be copied and used to cre- ate new materials and energy. These few examples may serve as stimuli for future research and thus may lead materials science into new dimensions for the third millennium.It is hoped that future developments will be for the betterment of mankind (and not for its destrucion)since science will be increasingly linked to societal issues. The public seems to be more and more dissatisfied by the fact that the substantial investments which are expended for science and education so far have not solved the problems of society.It almost seems that,with expanding technologies and the consequential rise in the amount of "desirable"consumer goods,the gap between the "haves"and the "have nots"steadily widens.This may be a con- tributing factor to the social unrest and the mindless crimes against property and human lives.Thus,a concerted effort by government, academia,and industry has to be initiated in the near future to find out how educational institutions in general and scholars in partic- ular can contribute to the national welfare.It is imperative that our thinking and our deeds are less governed by money,rules,regula- tions,and mindless laws but instead by our forces of the heart,that is,our caring,compassion,and love for others,including the less fortunate individuals,in other parts of the world.It seems that the problems may be solved only when the next generation is educated in body,mind,and spirit,that is,beyond the factual knowledge of science.Specifically,the rising generation has to be taught to ap- preciate and especially respect the history of mankind,the cultures of other countries,the arts,in their diversity and their important place in life.Moreover,we need to appreciate the beauty but also the vulnerability of Planet Earth,which requires our caring re- sponsibility for life in all its varied forms for generations to come. It is hoped that this book has made a contribution toward this goal.materials will probably be studied more intensely in the future than they have been in the past. • The storage of energy in batteries, etc., is at present most ineffi￾cient and requires bulky devices. New techniques will probably be discovered that raise the energy to mass ratio and increase the efficiency by involving a plasma technology, which is harnessed in containers consisting of high-temperature resistant materials. • Materials may be found which, when weakened by fatigue or cracking, will activate a self-healing mechanism that returns the material, while in use, to its originally intended properties without external intervention. • New types of trees or plant species will be genetically engi￾neered which can be harvested in about 7–8 years rather than in the present 30-year time interval. • The process of photosynthesis may be copied and used to cre￾ate new materials and energy. These few examples may serve as stimuli for future research and thus may lead materials science into new dimensions for the third millennium. It is hoped that future developments will be for the betterment of mankind (and not for its destrucion) since science will be increasingly linked to societal issues. The public seems to be more and more dissatisfied by the fact that the substantial investments which are expended for science and education so far have not solved the problems of society. It almost seems that, with expanding technologies and the consequential rise in the amount of “desirable” consumer goods, the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” steadily widens. This may be a con￾tributing factor to the social unrest and the mindless crimes against property and human lives. Thus, a concerted effort by government, academia, and industry has to be initiated in the near future to find out how educational institutions in general and scholars in partic￾ular can contribute to the national welfare. It is imperative that our thinking and our deeds are less governed by money, rules, regula￾tions, and mindless laws but instead by our forces of the heart, that is, our caring, compassion, and love for others, including the less fortunate individuals, in other parts of the world. It seems that the problems may be solved only when the next generation is educated in body, mind, and spirit, that is, beyond the factual knowledge of science. Specifically, the rising generation has to be taught to ap￾preciate and especially respect the history of mankind, the cultures of other countries, the arts, in their diversity and their important place in life. Moreover, we need to appreciate the beauty but also the vulnerability of Planet Earth, which requires our caring re￾sponsibility for life in all its varied forms for generations to come. It is hoped that this book has made a contribution toward this goal. 412 19 • What Does the Future Hold?