Where's My Flying Car? Science, Science Fiction, and a Changing Vision of the Future

Friday, 14 February 2014: 1:30 PM-4:30 PM
Regency C (Hyatt Regency Chicago)
Since the late 19th century, science fiction has captivated the imaginations of readers around the world. Always looking beyond the current state of the art, its authors have envisioned, often with considerable accuracy, the emergence of numerous new technologies and fields of studyfrom space travel and communications satellites to genetic engineering and the resurrection of extinct species. In addition to producing sweeping vistas of a utopian future, science fiction has produced numerous cautionary tales and explored ethical dilemmas associated with the use of new technologies before such capabilities were even possible. Along the way, it has inspired countless young minds to choose careers in the sciences, highlighted the importance of scientific literacy, and entertained millions. This symposium gathers prominent science fiction authors and scientists to discuss the constant interplay between this literary genre and the conduct and applications of science, as well how the public’s vision of the future has changed over time and what that might tell us about what comes next.
Organizer:
Susan Wolfinbarger, AAAS Center for Science, Policy, and Society Programs
Co-Organizer:
Jonathan Drake, AAAS Center for Science, Policy, and Society Programs
Speakers:
Lawrence Krauss, Arizona State University
Physics of the Future
Kim Stanley Robinson, science fiction author
Climate Change and the Scientific Community
See more of: Communication and Public Programs
See more of: Symposia