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Fictional Town "Eureka" To Become Real?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the next-terrorist-targets dept.

Zarath writes "The fictional town of Eureka (from the TV series by the same name) is going to potentially become a real life town as the University of Queensland, in Australia, plans to build a multibillion-dollar 'brain city' dedicated to science and research. The city, hoping to hold at least 10,000 people, is looking to attract 4,500 of the brightest scientists from around the world to live and work there. The city is planned to be built west of the city of Brisbane, in Queensland. While not funded by the Department of Defense (like the [city of the] TV series), the potential for such a community is very interesting and exciting."

3 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm... good idea... by abroadwin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...keep all of our best and brightest in one location. What could possibly go wrong?

  2. Sounds like what the Soviets did by CRCulver · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of the most interesting decisions in Soviet science was the establishment of Akademgorodok, an enclave outside Novosibirsk dedicated entirely to scientists (see e.g. Josephson's New Atlantis Revisited published by Princeton University Press). I don't understand why that wasn't more popular in Western countries. Maybe sciences move ahead when you give scientists peace, a sense of respect and dignity, and ability to manage their own work. Of course, generous funding is essential, lest it all go down the tubes.

    1. Re:Sounds like what the Soviets did by DeadDecoy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I think we already have something like this to the degree that it can exist and they're called universities. I actually think this isn't a very good idea. The premise is that smart people are naturally gifted and if, herded into a small enclosure, will develop good things. The true value of smart people, however, is not the gadgets they can develop, but the education they can distribute to their surrounding communities. If the city does not train new minds, or allow the 'less intelligent' to be trained, then it will probably stifle the growth of intellectual resources. If it does do research and train you people who show sufficient academic prowess, then it's simply a university town.