World Future Forum 2015
Something Dawkins said reminded me of the Secular Policy Institute’s upcoming event, that I blogged about last June. It’s this fall, isn’t it, I thought – I wonder what events and speakers they’ve lined up, I thought. The program was rather thin when I blogged about it, you may remember, with only two people named, Laurence Krauss and Gregory Copley. It did have a day of events though, even though it was unclear who would be doing the talking:
9:00-10:30 am – Future of Earth’s Climate (Ballroom)
How will global warming affect life as we know it? Will climate interventions become commonplace mechanisms to save our planet?10:30-10:45 am – Break
10:45-12:15 pm – Future of Violence and Terrorism (Ballroom)
How will violence reconfigure earth’s geopolitical borders, boundaries, and relationships? Is civilization heading in the direction of greater or lesser violence over the history of its evolution?12:15-3:30 pm – Future of Space Exploration
Will humans colonize other planets? Will space travel become commonplace? Will time travel become possible?3:30 – 4:00 pm – Conclusion
7-9 pm – World Future Forum Conversations & Considerations – The George Washington University Lisner Auditorium
The world’s foremost experts convene to talk about the future of everything. This event is ticketed separately and not included in conference registration.
Ok not so much a day of events as a day of questions, but anyway. I was curious about the added speakers so I looked it up. The page now looks different. There are no scheduled events listed, there’s not even a date or location. Gone are Krauss and Copley, gone is the Phoenix Park hotel, gone is the October 25-26. All that’s left is a description.
World Future Forum
The Secular Policy Institute convenes some of the world’s most prestigious scholars and scientists to develop and disseminate compelling resources to influence the world’s decision makers. Open to policymakers and the public alike, this inaugural World Future Forum provides an unparalleled opportunity for an informed discussion of authoritative perspectives on the critical issues facing contemporary societies across the globe.
Panel Topics Under Current Consideration
- Future of Earth’s Climate
- Future of Violence and Terrorism – Michael Semple
- Future of Religion
- Future of Humanity
- Future of Space Travel
- Future of the Multiverse
- Future of Space Exploration
- Future of Morality
- Future of World Security
- Future of World Economies
- Future of World Resources
- Future of Life Expectancy
- Future of Transportation
- Future of World Health
- Future of Technology
Speakers and Experts
Secular Policy Institute will present speakers who are distinguished scientists and scholars, and who are dedicated to policymaking informed by the most current, accurate information available. Through proactive education and ongoing collaboration, SPI Fellows and Experts offer leverage to their allies and lobby for political and societal change around the world.
So…what happened?
I picture evolutionary biologists at war with one another over group selection and the role of epigenetics. General E.O. Wilson vs. General Lewontin.
Ophelia, this is you–
http://derricklweston.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/gabbo-gif.gif
Lewontin vs Wilson. That took me back. I took classes from both of them, way back in the Late Paleolithic. Wilson was a fine entomologist, but somehow decided the charateristics of Hymenoptera could be generalized to humans — or at least left a lot of people with that impression and didn’t correct them. Lewontin is someone who could not only fight his way out of a paper bag; he could blast out of a three foot thick concrete box like it wasn’t there. One of the most intelligent people it’s ever been my pleasure to meet.
So I know who my money is on if that dust-up ever comes to pass.
One topic missing under “consideration”: Future of World Future Forum