Dr. Hilbert pursues a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the role of information, communication and knowledge in social development. He is particularly interested in the implications of and requisites for the digitization of information in complex social systems. He has published peer-reviewed Journal articles in the fields of communication, public policy, economic development, psychology, political science, women’s studies, technology, forecasting and social change. His publications have been cited hundreds of times by other scholars. He has written six books (three with academic editorials), and provided hands-on technical assistance to Heads of States, government officials, legislators, diplomats, and civil society organizations in 27 countries. Dr. Hilbert has designed and coordinated research and technical assistance projects that involved more than 200 researchers for the United Nations. Policy makers at the highest political levels have officially recognized the impact of the resulting projects in public declarations. He holds a permanent appointment as Economic Affairs Officer of the United Nations, but is currently on a leave from these duties and has joined the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Hilbert speaks five languages, has published in three of them and has over ten years of working and research experience in four continents. His work has been featured in Science, Scientific American, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Washington Post, NPR, BBC, Sueddeutsche, Correio Braziliense, La Repubblica, El Pais, among others.