Lecture Abstract

The term “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” (FIR) is a buzzword being used nowadays but actually what does it means? How does it impact?  This seminar will start with a discussion of the prior industrial revolutions leading to the current one then focus in the security aspect of the current industrial revolution. The security implications of the FIR’s underlying technologies, namely nanotechnology, biotechnology, information and communication technology, cognitive science will be discussed. The security impacts of the convergence of these technologies are virtually limitless and for illustration purposes, the security implications of the artificial intelligence and 3D printing will be highlighted. The aim of the seminar is to raise awareness and to allow the policy makers to make informed policies and strategies.

We are privileged to have Dr Cung Vu, Visiting Senior Fellow, RSIS; and Former Associate Director, Office of Naval Research Global (Singapore), United States, Department of the Navy, to share his thoughts on the implications of the FIR’s technologies on security.

About the Speaker

Dr Cung Vu is a chemical engineer with 35 years of experience in industries, academia and government, was listed in Who’s Who in Science and Engineering and has thirty-eight world‐wide patents. Has extensive personal networks across the Department of Defense (DOD), National Academies, National Laboratories, Industries, US Government and Allies.

Dr Vu is currently an independent consultant, following his retirement from the US government, focusing in Science and Technology (S&T) in National Security, S&T in Maritime Security, Cyber Security, Emerging Technologies, Renewable Energy for Rural Community, Waste to Energy, Water and Energy Nexus, and Renewable Energy in the Asia-Pacific region. In parallel, he is a Visiting Senior Fellow, Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and also a consultant for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii.

Dr Vu served as Associate Director at the Office of Naval Research Global in Singapore. He acted as a technical broker linking the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Naval Research Enterprise with international scientific community. He identified emerging and disruptive technology (EDT) in order to avoid naval technical surprise. He provided ONR forward presence with global innovators and technologists.

Previously, Dr Vu served as Chief Science and Technology Advisor at the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) where he advised the Director of NMIO on the implications of emerging technologies in the maritime domain. He fostered engagement and information sharing amongst the NMIO stakeholders (Federal, State, Local Government, Academia, Private sector, and Foreign Partners) focusing on S&T. He also led a Community of Interest on EDT under the charter of the Global Futures Forum, coordinated by the Department of State with members from over 50 countries to provide cultural/social context and allow the anticipate responses to EDT issues from different parts of the world. He was Branch Chief, Advanced Technologies of the Defense Warning Office DOD overseeing strategic assessments on emerging technologies with the intent of precluding technological surprise. Prior to this he was Senior Program Officer; Board of Manufacturing and Engineering Design and National Materials Advisory Board of the National Academies. He conducted studies, defined technical issues, proposed solutions and identified research opportunities over a wide range of manufacturing, engineering design, materials, and processing topics for government, industries, and academia. Dr Vu spent more than 20 years in private sector working in chemical and material industries. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Monash University, Australia and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Honors from University of Sydney, Australia.