The next ten years will witness either Australia's decline and fall to the status of a second world country [into The Funneled Web] or its progress toward a prosperity benefiting us all.

What we don't know and can't do because we don't know is hurting us. It will continue to do so – if we don't do something about it.

Don't expect our elected leaders to show overly much initiative. Indications are that much policy and budget commitment is based on commissioned opinion polls. We have to show the pollsters who in turn can pass the information up the line.

 [Paraphrasing Mark Twain] The job of this web site is to attract people to take an interest in something they're not interested in.

The Funneled Web has been set up to inform those who access it of what's happening in Australia and the rest of the world that will increasingly affect our standard of living and well being, this year, this decade and beyond.  

By using the Internet, and particularly the World Wide Web, news of what's happening in the world – particularly in science, technology and education as well as the approaches of various countries in taking advantage of progress in 21^st  century knowledge, can be funneled to you. Who knows, with luck perhaps those in government, those aspiring to govern, and even the corporate movers and shakers may take some notice if we get it across that it matters to us.

As TFW develops, it'll be the News & Views, Op-Ed and Editorial sections that will keep regular visitors not only up to date with national and world developments but we hope — entertained as well. In addition we'll be frequently adding new links to TFW. This is our attempt to help put the means in your hands to get those who govern to do so for the common good  – in fact not just for appearances and popularity.

"Clever Country", "Knowledge Nation", "Intellectual Society" Does the description really matter? But what is profoundly important is: 

"Science, engineering and technology underpin our future as a thriving cultured and responsible community." [Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr. Robin Batterham – not an "ivory towered" academic but industry based]. Add to that education & learning and you've got a good mix, a very good mix.  

If you're new to the site, check out the Background page.

1. Currently Australia is not keeping pace with its cohorts in living standard. It's not stagnant, but it's rate of progress is causing us to fall increasingly behind.
   

2. If a national will exists, then we can certainly catch up and stay up. Without that resolve, there's no way in the world we'll manage it – we're not that lucky a country.
   

3. But we also need the tools to do the job. Those to whom we've entrusted power have the means to provide them if we get them to realise that we expect them to do so – or we can move them on.

So what is the solution?
To regard as valuable - learning, knowledge, and their utilisation. That's it.
It's that simple to state and it'll be damned hard to accomplish. One thing's certain; there'll be no quick fix.

Alex Reisner, Editor
The Funneled Web

Alex Reisner studied at Stanford, Indiana University and the Karolinska Institute majoring in molecular biology and biophysics. In Australia he taught and undertook research in molecular biology first at Sydney University and then with CSIRO. He rejoined Sydney University in 1990 where he became the founding head of ANGIS, the Australian National Genomic Information Service. In 1995 he retired from ANGIS to work in the private sector.