Extreme Simulation Scenarios. Thinking about the promise, risk, and plausibility of AI and VRs
With Amon Twyman
2pm-4pm, Saturday 11th July 2009
Transhumanism is a broad set of ideas and niche interests which collectively address the impact of technology on the human condition. The most radical thought experiments entertained by transhumanists often involve some reference to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Virtual Reality (VR), and can be classed as Extreme Simulation Scenarios (ESS). Such scenarios can be equal parts attractive and disturbing. They describe conditions of radical liberation from traditional human constraints, but also open up entirely new categories of potential risk. Evaluations of ESS frequently conflate assessments of promise, risk, technological credibility, and congruence with extant belief systems.
This presentation will disentangle the various threads within ESS evaluation as follows:
(1) explaining key ESS concepts such as uploads, utility fog, and virtual autonomous zones;
(2) describing the principal extreme simulation scenarios and their historical roots;
(3) evaluating specific criticisms of ESS; and
(4) considering the degree to which assessments of ESS are often a matter of opposed assumptions and worldviews rather than the unprejudiced examination of evidence.
Come along and learn how to think critically and constructively about some of the most revolutionary transhumanist ideas, and how they relate to our current culture and technology.
About the speaker
Amon Twyman is a cognitive scientist and artist based in London. His work within cognitive psychology at University College London has investigated the role of conscious awareness in decision making, and he has explored transhumanist themes as a member of electro-industrial band Xykogen.
There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. Join the debate!
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Charles Stross's book "Accelerando" displayed.
Venue:
Room 538, on the fifth floor (via the lift near reception) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.
25.6.09
5.6.09
Swine flu, black swans, and Geneva-eating dragons
Anders Sandberg on What statistics tells us we should (not) be worried about
2pm-4pm, Saturday 20th June.
Risk is everywhere these days - in economy, in technology, in health, in climate. Such things have always been uncertain, but recently our society has become preoccupied with risk and safety, often allowing such concerns to trump any other value.
The more future-oriented we become, the more nasty possibilities there seem to be, and the more we strive for safety the more elusive it becomes. Worse, many problems are radically uncertain: we have no experience with them and may not even have considered them before they strike. But what can we actually say about what threatens us? What are the big threats we can foresee? What can we do about them?
This talk will introduce some of the thinking about risk that is going on right now:
*) how power-law distributed disasters reliably surprise us
*) how to estimate the risk of something we have no historical record of
*) why we should be more afraid of power outages than asteroids
*) why the really big problems always are unexpected
*) and how to try to think when you know normal reasoning is too unreliable.
There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. Join the debate!
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of the book "The Black Swan" displayed.
Venue:
Room 153, on the first floor (via the lift B) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.
Anders Sandberg on What statistics tells us we should (not) be worried about
2pm-4pm, Saturday 20th June.
Risk is everywhere these days - in economy, in technology, in health, in climate. Such things have always been uncertain, but recently our society has become preoccupied with risk and safety, often allowing such concerns to trump any other value.
The more future-oriented we become, the more nasty possibilities there seem to be, and the more we strive for safety the more elusive it becomes. Worse, many problems are radically uncertain: we have no experience with them and may not even have considered them before they strike. But what can we actually say about what threatens us? What are the big threats we can foresee? What can we do about them?
This talk will introduce some of the thinking about risk that is going on right now:
*) how power-law distributed disasters reliably surprise us
*) how to estimate the risk of something we have no historical record of
*) why we should be more afraid of power outages than asteroids
*) why the really big problems always are unexpected
*) and how to try to think when you know normal reasoning is too unreliable.
There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. Join the debate!
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of the book "The Black Swan" displayed.
Venue:
Room 153, on the first floor (via the lift B) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.
19.5.09
Mike Darwin on: Whatever Happened to the Future of Medicine
Why the much anticipated medical breakthroughs of the early 21st century are failing to materialize
Saturday 30th May 2009, 2pm-4pm. Room 403 (fourth floor), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. There's no charge to attend, and everyone is welcome.
Speaker
Mike Darwin has 30 years experience in cutting edge medical research. Co-founder of the Institute for Advanced Biological Studies, 1977. President of Alcor Life Extension 1983-1988, Research Director 1988-1992. Described by Wikipedia as "Second only to Robert Ettinger as one of the most influential figures in the controversial field of cryonics"
Description of talk
The last half of the 20th Century was a time of explosive growth in growth in high technology medicine. Effective chemotherapy for many microbial diseases, the advent of sophisticated vaccination, the development and application of the corticosteroids, and the development of extracorporeal and cardiovascular prosthetic medicine (cardiopulmonary bypass, hemodialysis, synthetic arterial vascular grafts and cardiac valves) are but a few examples of what can only be described as stunning progress in medicine derived in large measure from translation research.
The closing decades of the last century brought confident predictions from both academic and clinical researchers (scientists and physicians alike) that the opening decade of this century would see, if not definitive cure or control, then certainly the first truly effective therapeutic drugs for cancer, ischemia-reperfusion injury (i.e. heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest), multisystem organ failure and dysfunction (MSOF/D), immunomodulation (control of rejection and much improved management of autoimmune diseases), oxygen therapeutics and more radically, the perfection of long term organ preservation, widespread use of the total artificial heart (TAH) and the clinical application of the first drugs to slow or moderate biological aging.
However, none of these anticipated gains has materialized, and countless drug trials in humans based on highly successful animal models of MSOF/D, stroke, heart attack, cancer, and immunomodulation have failed. Indeed it may be reasonably argued that the pace of therapeutic advance has slowed. By contrast, the growth of technology and capability in some areas of diagnostic medicine, primarily imaging, has maintained its exponential rate of growth and, while much slower than growth in other areas of technological endeavor, such as communications and consumer electronics, progress has been impressive.
Why has translational research at the cutting edge of medicine (and in particular in critical care medicine) stalled, or often resulted in clinical trials that had to be halted due to increased morbidity and mortality in the treated patients? The answers to these questions are complex and multifactorial, and deserve careful review.
Renewed success in the application of translational research in humans will require a return to the understanding and acceptance of the inescapable fact that perfection of complex biomedical technologies cannot be modeled solely in the animal or computer research laboratory. The corollary of this understanding must be the acceptance of the unpleasant reality that perfection of novel, let alone revolutionary medical technologies, will require a huge cost in human suffering and sacrifice. The aborted journey of the TAH to widespread clinical application due to the unwillingness on the part of the public, and the now extant bioethical infrastructure in medicine, to accept the years of suffering accompanied by modest, incremental advances towards perfection of this technology, is a good example of what might rightly be described as a societal ‘failure of nerve’ in the face of great benefit at great cost. It may be rightly said, to quote the political revolutionary Delores Ibarruri, that we must once again come to understand that, “It is better to die on our feet than to live on our knees!”
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or lunch any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of James Halperin's book "The First Immortal" displayed. (This book is a well-researched and thought-provoking novel about cryonics.)
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
Room 403 is on the fourth floor (via the main lift) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.
Why the much anticipated medical breakthroughs of the early 21st century are failing to materialize
Saturday 30th May 2009, 2pm-4pm. Room 403 (fourth floor), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. There's no charge to attend, and everyone is welcome.
Speaker
Mike Darwin has 30 years experience in cutting edge medical research. Co-founder of the Institute for Advanced Biological Studies, 1977. President of Alcor Life Extension 1983-1988, Research Director 1988-1992. Described by Wikipedia as "Second only to Robert Ettinger as one of the most influential figures in the controversial field of cryonics"
Description of talk
The last half of the 20th Century was a time of explosive growth in growth in high technology medicine. Effective chemotherapy for many microbial diseases, the advent of sophisticated vaccination, the development and application of the corticosteroids, and the development of extracorporeal and cardiovascular prosthetic medicine (cardiopulmonary bypass, hemodialysis, synthetic arterial vascular grafts and cardiac valves) are but a few examples of what can only be described as stunning progress in medicine derived in large measure from translation research.
The closing decades of the last century brought confident predictions from both academic and clinical researchers (scientists and physicians alike) that the opening decade of this century would see, if not definitive cure or control, then certainly the first truly effective therapeutic drugs for cancer, ischemia-reperfusion injury (i.e. heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest), multisystem organ failure and dysfunction (MSOF/D), immunomodulation (control of rejection and much improved management of autoimmune diseases), oxygen therapeutics and more radically, the perfection of long term organ preservation, widespread use of the total artificial heart (TAH) and the clinical application of the first drugs to slow or moderate biological aging.
However, none of these anticipated gains has materialized, and countless drug trials in humans based on highly successful animal models of MSOF/D, stroke, heart attack, cancer, and immunomodulation have failed. Indeed it may be reasonably argued that the pace of therapeutic advance has slowed. By contrast, the growth of technology and capability in some areas of diagnostic medicine, primarily imaging, has maintained its exponential rate of growth and, while much slower than growth in other areas of technological endeavor, such as communications and consumer electronics, progress has been impressive.
Why has translational research at the cutting edge of medicine (and in particular in critical care medicine) stalled, or often resulted in clinical trials that had to be halted due to increased morbidity and mortality in the treated patients? The answers to these questions are complex and multifactorial, and deserve careful review.
Renewed success in the application of translational research in humans will require a return to the understanding and acceptance of the inescapable fact that perfection of complex biomedical technologies cannot be modeled solely in the animal or computer research laboratory. The corollary of this understanding must be the acceptance of the unpleasant reality that perfection of novel, let alone revolutionary medical technologies, will require a huge cost in human suffering and sacrifice. The aborted journey of the TAH to widespread clinical application due to the unwillingness on the part of the public, and the now extant bioethical infrastructure in medicine, to accept the years of suffering accompanied by modest, incremental advances towards perfection of this technology, is a good example of what might rightly be described as a societal ‘failure of nerve’ in the face of great benefit at great cost. It may be rightly said, to quote the political revolutionary Delores Ibarruri, that we must once again come to understand that, “It is better to die on our feet than to live on our knees!”
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or lunch any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of James Halperin's book "The First Immortal" displayed. (This book is a well-researched and thought-provoking novel about cryonics.)
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
Room 403 is on the fourth floor (via the main lift) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations.
14.4.09
Cryonics in the UK: Reality and Vision
What are the pros and cons of signing up for your body to be cryonically suspended at ultra-low temperatures when a fatal disease strikes?
Speaker: David Styles, organiser for Cryonics UK, a Britain-based "standby assistance" team
2pm-4pm, Saturday 2nd May.
Venue:
Room 538, 5th floor (by main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX (Note: Torrington Square is pedestrian only. It is a short walkfrom each of Goodge Street and Russell Square tube stations.)
About the speaker:
David Styles is a cryonicist, who views cryonic suspension as an ambulance to the future. While he'd much rather not need it, he recognises that it may be necessary in order to avoid death in the short (100 years or so) term.
Further reading: a recent article on the Daily Mail.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or lunch any time after12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To findus, look out for a table where there's a copy of James Halperin's book "TheFirst Immortal" displayed. (This book is a well-researched and thought-provokingnovel about cryonics.)Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those whoare able to stay.
What are the pros and cons of signing up for your body to be cryonically suspended at ultra-low temperatures when a fatal disease strikes?
Speaker: David Styles, organiser for Cryonics UK, a Britain-based "standby assistance" team
2pm-4pm, Saturday 2nd May.
Venue:
Room 538, 5th floor (by main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX (Note: Torrington Square is pedestrian only. It is a short walkfrom each of Goodge Street and Russell Square tube stations.)
About the speaker:
David Styles is a cryonicist, who views cryonic suspension as an ambulance to the future. While he'd much rather not need it, he recognises that it may be necessary in order to avoid death in the short (100 years or so) term.
Further reading: a recent article on the Daily Mail.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a drink and/or lunch any time after12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To findus, look out for a table where there's a copy of James Halperin's book "TheFirst Immortal" displayed. (This book is a well-researched and thought-provokingnovel about cryonics.)Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those whoare able to stay.
7.3.09
One foot in the future. Attaining the 10,000+ year lifespan you always wanted?
Saturday 21st March, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 403, 4th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone's welcome.
Dr Richard Faragher, Reader in Gerontology, School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, will review the ageing process across the animal kingdom together with the latest scientific insights into how it may operate. The lecture will also review promising avenues for translation into practice over the next few years, and current barriers to progress in ageing research will be considered.
About the speaker:
Richard Faragher read Biochemistry at Imperial College, London, and undertook doctoral studies at the University of Sussex. His primary research interest is the relationship between replicative senescence and organismal ageing. In 2005, he became the first ever scientist to receive a Help the Aged award for his championship of research for older people. From 2004-2008 Dr Faragher was Co-director of the BBSRC EPSRC-SPARC programme, a cross-disciplinary research network designed to build national capacity in ageing research. He currently serves on the Research Advisory Council of the Charity Research Into Ageing.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for drinks and/or a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ? To find us, look out for a table displaying a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging".
For those able to stay after the meeting, discussion is likely to continue in one of the pubs near Birkbeck College.
Saturday 21st March, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 403, 4th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone's welcome.
Dr Richard Faragher, Reader in Gerontology, School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, will review the ageing process across the animal kingdom together with the latest scientific insights into how it may operate. The lecture will also review promising avenues for translation into practice over the next few years, and current barriers to progress in ageing research will be considered.
About the speaker:
Richard Faragher read Biochemistry at Imperial College, London, and undertook doctoral studies at the University of Sussex. His primary research interest is the relationship between replicative senescence and organismal ageing. In 2005, he became the first ever scientist to receive a Help the Aged award for his championship of research for older people. From 2004-2008 Dr Faragher was Co-director of the BBSRC EPSRC-SPARC programme, a cross-disciplinary research network designed to build national capacity in ageing research. He currently serves on the Research Advisory Council of the Charity Research Into Ageing.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for drinks and/or a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ? To find us, look out for a table displaying a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging".
For those able to stay after the meeting, discussion is likely to continue in one of the pubs near Birkbeck College.
3.2.09
The role of diet and supplements in longevity - the science behind the hype.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 28th of February 2009; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Alistair Tweed of Aging-management.com will highlight the results of the latest scientific research into a series of diets and dietary supplements that have been held up as capable of extending our healthy lifespan.
The talk will include:
-The role of diet and supplements in longevity.
-A primer on how to choose and use supplements to optimise your health for longevity.
-Advanced supplement strategies.
-Which supplements and nutraceuticals to look out for in the coming year - and the science behind them
-How people can meaningfully contribute to the progress of of anti-aging science and medicine.
About the speaker:
A long time health and fitness enthusiast, Alistair Tweed developed a keen interest in longevity and anti-aging about 10 years ago and has continued to learn about and live by these principles ever since. He set up Aging Management Ltd in July of 2007 and is webmaster, company director, primary business developer and general dog's body for the company. In March 2008, he was invited to become "Methuselah Foundation Outreach Coordinator - UK", official volunteer lead for the Methuselah Foundation for business and outreach activities in the UK, working closely with the Methuselah Foundation Board and especially Aubrey de Grey, as he promotes the Foundation's mission and donors in the UK. Alistair lives in Essex with his family.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for drinks and/or a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ? To find us, look out for a table displaying a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging".
For those able to stay after the meeting, discussion is likely to continue in one of the pubs near Birkbeck College.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 28th of February 2009; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Alistair Tweed of Aging-management.com will highlight the results of the latest scientific research into a series of diets and dietary supplements that have been held up as capable of extending our healthy lifespan.
The talk will include:
-The role of diet and supplements in longevity.
-A primer on how to choose and use supplements to optimise your health for longevity.
-Advanced supplement strategies.
-Which supplements and nutraceuticals to look out for in the coming year - and the science behind them
-How people can meaningfully contribute to the progress of of anti-aging science and medicine.
About the speaker:
A long time health and fitness enthusiast, Alistair Tweed developed a keen interest in longevity and anti-aging about 10 years ago and has continued to learn about and live by these principles ever since. He set up Aging Management Ltd in July of 2007 and is webmaster, company director, primary business developer and general dog's body for the company. In March 2008, he was invited to become "Methuselah Foundation Outreach Coordinator - UK", official volunteer lead for the Methuselah Foundation for business and outreach activities in the UK, working closely with the Methuselah Foundation Board and especially Aubrey de Grey, as he promotes the Foundation's mission and donors in the UK. Alistair lives in Essex with his family.
Pre-meeting and post-meeting activities:
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for drinks and/or a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ? To find us, look out for a table displaying a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging".
For those able to stay after the meeting, discussion is likely to continue in one of the pubs near Birkbeck College.
4.1.09
Informal lunchtime get-together: ideas and plans for the H+ year ahead
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 17th of January 2009; 1:00pm - 2:00pm. Venue: the Penderell's Oak pub, 283 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP (nearest tube stop: Holborn). The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Anyone interested in Transhumanism and/or Extropian themes is welcome to join a lunchtime gathering in the pub that's been described as the spiritual home of transhumanism in the UK. If it's your first ExtroBritannia, look out for a table with a copy displayed of Eric Drexler's book, "Engines of creation". This get-together is being scheduled to fit in the lunch break of the day-long "Weird science" event organised by the Centre For Inquiry, London, that's taking place that day in the nearby Conway Hall. During our get-together, we'll have the chance to discuss ideas for H+ meetings and activities in the UK later in the year. We can also review how H+ fits with the Bad Science approach, and possible synergies with the Centre for Inquiry.
Note: anyone who wants to attend the lectures of the Bad Science event will need to register separately - and pay a small fee to the CFI London organisers. Use the above link.
Note: Participants from the Bad Science event will be retiring to Penderell's Oak after the Conway Hall lectures, from 4pm, so there will be a chance to take part in discussions at that stage too.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 17th of January 2009; 1:00pm - 2:00pm. Venue: the Penderell's Oak pub, 283 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP (nearest tube stop: Holborn). The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Anyone interested in Transhumanism and/or Extropian themes is welcome to join a lunchtime gathering in the pub that's been described as the spiritual home of transhumanism in the UK. If it's your first ExtroBritannia, look out for a table with a copy displayed of Eric Drexler's book, "Engines of creation". This get-together is being scheduled to fit in the lunch break of the day-long "Weird science" event organised by the Centre For Inquiry, London, that's taking place that day in the nearby Conway Hall. During our get-together, we'll have the chance to discuss ideas for H+ meetings and activities in the UK later in the year. We can also review how H+ fits with the Bad Science approach, and possible synergies with the Centre for Inquiry.
Note: anyone who wants to attend the lectures of the Bad Science event will need to register separately - and pay a small fee to the CFI London organisers. Use the above link.
Note: Participants from the Bad Science event will be retiring to Penderell's Oak after the Conway Hall lectures, from 4pm, so there will be a chance to take part in discussions at that stage too.
1.12.08
Transhumanims: Arguably the world’s most important idea in the coming ten years?
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday December the 13th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX (map). The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
What is the idea that most deserves support and publicity, over (say) the next ten years, in order to best allow individuals and societies to avoid nightmare scenarios and to achieve optimal outcomes? Various people might pick ideas such as democracy, free-market economics, rationalism, the "precautionary principle", sustainable living, globalisation, anti-globalisation, carbon emission trading, open source, and web 2.0.
Instead, this meeting will examine the case in favour of transhumanism. Transhumanism is more than a fondness for technology, and a willingness to endorse the thoughtful application of technology within society. Transhumanism is also a view about what it means to be human, and an affirmation of radical evolution. It is no wonder that some elements of society find transhumanism to be threatening.
The meeting will also look at some current major risks faced by society: religion-inspired terrorism, the global economic crisis, the potential for rapid discontinuous climate change, and threats to existing social norms caused by rapidly improving technology. Is transhumanism relevant to these larger matters, or is it in some ways a kind of distraction – "opium for the geeks"?
The discussion will be led by David Wood. The intent is to provoke a stimulating and deeply illuminating debate – and ideally to reach some views about "what next?"
If you’re interested in ideas such as the Technological Singularity, Life Extension, Radical Evolution, Intelligence Augmentation, Nano-scale Engineering, or Geo-scale Engineering, but are unsure how credible and relevant these ideas are, you will probably find this discussion rewarding!
The meeting is organised by the UKTA (Extrobritannia), the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association. There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday December the 13th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX (map). The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
What is the idea that most deserves support and publicity, over (say) the next ten years, in order to best allow individuals and societies to avoid nightmare scenarios and to achieve optimal outcomes? Various people might pick ideas such as democracy, free-market economics, rationalism, the "precautionary principle", sustainable living, globalisation, anti-globalisation, carbon emission trading, open source, and web 2.0.
Instead, this meeting will examine the case in favour of transhumanism. Transhumanism is more than a fondness for technology, and a willingness to endorse the thoughtful application of technology within society. Transhumanism is also a view about what it means to be human, and an affirmation of radical evolution. It is no wonder that some elements of society find transhumanism to be threatening.
The meeting will also look at some current major risks faced by society: religion-inspired terrorism, the global economic crisis, the potential for rapid discontinuous climate change, and threats to existing social norms caused by rapidly improving technology. Is transhumanism relevant to these larger matters, or is it in some ways a kind of distraction – "opium for the geeks"?
The discussion will be led by David Wood. The intent is to provoke a stimulating and deeply illuminating debate – and ideally to reach some views about "what next?"
If you’re interested in ideas such as the Technological Singularity, Life Extension, Radical Evolution, Intelligence Augmentation, Nano-scale Engineering, or Geo-scale Engineering, but are unsure how credible and relevant these ideas are, you will probably find this discussion rewarding!
The meeting is organised by the UKTA (Extrobritannia), the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association. There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ.
28.10.08
Emulating brains: silicon dreams or the next big thing?
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday November the 22nd 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 403, 4th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
The idea of creating a faithful copy of a human brain has been a popular philosophical thought experiment and science fiction plot for decades. How close are we to actually doing it, how could it be done, and what would the consequences be? This talk will trace trends in computing, neuroscience, lab automaton and microscopy to show how whole brain emulation could become feasible in the mid term future.
Speaker: Anders Sandberg (Wikipedia, Homepage), Neuroethics researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University.
Join the debate! There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Venue: Room 403 is on the fourth floor (via the main lift) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub (see below), for those who are able to stay. Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ.
Extrobritannia is the monthly public event of the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday November the 22nd 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 403, 4th floor (via main lift), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
The idea of creating a faithful copy of a human brain has been a popular philosophical thought experiment and science fiction plot for decades. How close are we to actually doing it, how could it be done, and what would the consequences be? This talk will trace trends in computing, neuroscience, lab automaton and microscopy to show how whole brain emulation could become feasible in the mid term future.
Speaker: Anders Sandberg (Wikipedia, Homepage), Neuroethics researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University.
Join the debate! There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Venue: Room 403 is on the fourth floor (via the main lift) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub (see below), for those who are able to stay. Why not join some of the UKTA regulars for a light lunch beforehand, any time after 12.30pm, in The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ.
Extrobritannia is the monthly public event of the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association.
2.10.08
How Feasible is a Nanofactory?
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday October the 18th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 538, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Lead speaker: Professor Philip Moriarty, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham
Nanotechnology, and in particular the molecular manufacturing and nanoassembler concepts first put forward by K Eric Drexler [1] in the eighties, have been lauded as key enabling technologies to advance the human condition. At the core of Drexler's approach is the manipulation of single atoms and molecules using computer-controlled actuators or probes, which he argues will enable the assembly of "virtually anything" from basic raw materials [2]. Widely decried in both the academic scientific community and in a variety of popular science publications and media [3], this "Drexlarian" molecular nanotechnology approach has thus yet to be explored or tested experimentally. Nevertheless, at the core of Drexler's approach there is a demonstrably valid idea: the controlled positioning and manipulation of single atoms and molecules using, for example, scanning probe microscopes. The talk will critically assess Drexler's approach to nanotechnology from the perspective of an experimental nanoscientist [4], focussing in particular on the aims and objectives of a recently-funded programme of work [5] on computer-controlled assembly of diamond nanostructures.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Eric_Drexler
2. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8148/8148counterpoint.html
3. http://cohesion.rice.edu/NaturalSciences/Smalley/emplibrary/SA285-76.pdf
4. http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=70
5. http://crnano.typepad.com/crnblog/2008/08/building-digital-matter.html
The venue: Room 538, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for lunch beforehand, starting c. 1pm at The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Eric Drexler's "Engines of Creation" displayed.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday October the 18th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 538, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Lead speaker: Professor Philip Moriarty, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham
Nanotechnology, and in particular the molecular manufacturing and nanoassembler concepts first put forward by K Eric Drexler [1] in the eighties, have been lauded as key enabling technologies to advance the human condition. At the core of Drexler's approach is the manipulation of single atoms and molecules using computer-controlled actuators or probes, which he argues will enable the assembly of "virtually anything" from basic raw materials [2]. Widely decried in both the academic scientific community and in a variety of popular science publications and media [3], this "Drexlarian" molecular nanotechnology approach has thus yet to be explored or tested experimentally. Nevertheless, at the core of Drexler's approach there is a demonstrably valid idea: the controlled positioning and manipulation of single atoms and molecules using, for example, scanning probe microscopes. The talk will critically assess Drexler's approach to nanotechnology from the perspective of an experimental nanoscientist [4], focussing in particular on the aims and objectives of a recently-funded programme of work [5] on computer-controlled assembly of diamond nanostructures.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Eric_Drexler
2. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8148/8148counterpoint.html
3. http://cohesion.rice.edu/NaturalSciences/Smalley/emplibrary/SA285-76.pdf
4. http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=70
5. http://crnano.typepad.com/crnblog/2008/08/building-digital-matter.html
The venue: Room 538, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for lunch beforehand, starting c. 1pm at The Marlborough Arms, 36 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HJ. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Eric Drexler's "Engines of Creation" displayed.
8.9.08
Nine key questions about the coming Technological Singularity
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday September the 20th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Vernor Vinge wrote the following words in 1993, introducing the concept of the Singularity:
"Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended".
This UKTA meeting will be a group discussion, led by David Wood, on the following nine key questions:
1. Defining what we're talking about: What's the relation between the various different notions of the Singularity?
2. Are there arguments in principle against the Singularity?
3. What are the lessons we should learn from what's been called "the embarrassing history of AI"?
4. Is the Singularity a plausible occurrence within (say) the next 50 years?
5. What are the critical bottleneck determinants of development towards the Singularity?
6. What's the likeliest timescale for the Singularity?
7. Should we be doing everything in our power to prevent the Singularity from happening?
8. Can we influence the Singularity to make its outcome more likely to be good for humanity rather than disastrous?
9. What are the biggest uncertainties with the Singularity?
There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. Join the debate!
Venue:
Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event at "The Friend at Hand", nearby. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday September the 20th 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Vernor Vinge wrote the following words in 1993, introducing the concept of the Singularity:
"Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended".
This UKTA meeting will be a group discussion, led by David Wood, on the following nine key questions:
1. Defining what we're talking about: What's the relation between the various different notions of the Singularity?
2. Are there arguments in principle against the Singularity?
3. What are the lessons we should learn from what's been called "the embarrassing history of AI"?
4. Is the Singularity a plausible occurrence within (say) the next 50 years?
5. What are the critical bottleneck determinants of development towards the Singularity?
6. What's the likeliest timescale for the Singularity?
7. Should we be doing everything in our power to prevent the Singularity from happening?
8. Can we influence the Singularity to make its outcome more likely to be good for humanity rather than disastrous?
9. What are the biggest uncertainties with the Singularity?
There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. Join the debate!
Venue:
Room 539, 5th floor (via main lift), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event at "The Friend at Hand", nearby. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
4.8.08
Enhancing minds: the pros and cons of hi-tech methods for improving cognition.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday August the 23rd, 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Birkbeck College - Room 153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
What's the latest state of play with different methods (drugs, computer games, neuroimplants, genetics, etc) for enhancing cognition - and what are their benefits and problems?
Speakers:
Anders Sandberg, Neuroethics researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University;
Heather Bradshaw, Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, and Visions intern at the IEET.
Join the debate!
The meeting is sponsored by the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association (UKTA). There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Venue:
Room 153 is on the first floor (via lift B, down the corridor to the right of reception) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event at "The Friend at Hand", nearby. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in the same pub. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday August the 23rd, 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Birkbeck College - Room 153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
What's the latest state of play with different methods (drugs, computer games, neuroimplants, genetics, etc) for enhancing cognition - and what are their benefits and problems?
Speakers:
Anders Sandberg, Neuroethics researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University;
Heather Bradshaw, Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, and Visions intern at the IEET.
Join the debate!
The meeting is sponsored by the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association (UKTA). There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome.
Venue:
Room 153 is on the first floor (via lift B, down the corridor to the right of reception) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event at "The Friend at Hand", nearby. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in the same pub. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
16.7.08
Cryonics: Why it has failed, and possible ways to fix it - with Mike Darwin
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday August 2, 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Update! The venue has now been confirmed: Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Guest Speaker: Mike Darwin.
President of Alcor Life Extension 1983-1988, Research Director 1988-1992. Described by Wikipedia as "Second only to Robert Ettinger as one of the most influential figures in the controversial field of cryonics".
The talk will draw on the speaker's extensive personal experience with cryonics - the low-temperature preservation of humans and other animals that can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, until such time in the future when resuscitation may be possible.
The talk will cover: the audacious ambition and vision of cryonics, practical details of how it works, a whistle-stop history of cryonics, issues with the governance of cryonics organisations,
factors influencing public perception of cryonics, and reasons for both fear and hope for the future of cryonics.
Special attention will be given to the decline of cryonics in the UK and the failure of UK cryonics to establish a robust, full-service beachhead in Britain. The talk will also highlight what can be done to re-establish cryonics in the UK as a stable enterprise that will deserve the confidence of both its members and the public as a competent, high quality undertaking offering services which meet the highest ethical, scientific and biomedical standards.
The meeting is sponsored by the UK Transhumanist Association. There is no charge to attend. Join the debate!
The venue
Birkbeck College - Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square), London WC1E 7HX - MAP
The nearest tube station is Russell Square. Come out of the tube station and turn left, to walk west along Bernard St. Cross over Herbrand St then Woburn Place and keep walking westwards, on the north side of the square. Cross Bedford Way, and turn right into Thornhaugh St, then immediately left to enter Torrington Square through the pedestrian-only courtyard outside SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies). Veer right and you'll see the main entrance to Birkbeck College on the left as you walk up Torrington Square. Take the lift to the 5th floor and follow the signs to room 541.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in the same pub. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday August 2, 2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Update! The venue has now been confirmed: Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Guest Speaker: Mike Darwin.
President of Alcor Life Extension 1983-1988, Research Director 1988-1992. Described by Wikipedia as "Second only to Robert Ettinger as one of the most influential figures in the controversial field of cryonics".
The talk will draw on the speaker's extensive personal experience with cryonics - the low-temperature preservation of humans and other animals that can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, until such time in the future when resuscitation may be possible.
The talk will cover: the audacious ambition and vision of cryonics, practical details of how it works, a whistle-stop history of cryonics, issues with the governance of cryonics organisations,
factors influencing public perception of cryonics, and reasons for both fear and hope for the future of cryonics.
Special attention will be given to the decline of cryonics in the UK and the failure of UK cryonics to establish a robust, full-service beachhead in Britain. The talk will also highlight what can be done to re-establish cryonics in the UK as a stable enterprise that will deserve the confidence of both its members and the public as a competent, high quality undertaking offering services which meet the highest ethical, scientific and biomedical standards.
The meeting is sponsored by the UK Transhumanist Association. There is no charge to attend. Join the debate!
The venue
Birkbeck College - Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square), London WC1E 7HX - MAP
The nearest tube station is Russell Square. Come out of the tube station and turn left, to walk west along Bernard St. Cross over Herbrand St then Woburn Place and keep walking westwards, on the north side of the square. Cross Bedford Way, and turn right into Thornhaugh St, then immediately left to enter Torrington Square through the pedestrian-only courtyard outside SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies). Veer right and you'll see the main entrance to Birkbeck College on the left as you walk up Torrington Square. Take the lift to the 5th floor and follow the signs to room 541.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in the same pub. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
24.6.08
Living longer and longer yet healthier and healthier: realistic grounds for hope? Speakers: Aubrey de Grey and Alistair Tweed.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 12th of July 2008, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 152-153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Alistair Tweed, aging-management.com (Optimising Health for Longevity): "Finding the right diets, pills, and supplements for a long and healthy life - assessing the evidence"
Aubrey de Grey, Chairman and Chief Science Officer, The Methuselah Foundation: "an engineering project for curing human aging within the present generation"
Join the debate!
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
Venue:
Room 152-153 is on the first floor (via lift B, down the corridor to the right of reception) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP
This event is sponsored by the UKTA (Extrobritannia), the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association.
Keep an eye on our mailing list for updates.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 12th of July 2008, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 152-153, 1st floor (via lift B), Main Building, Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
Alistair Tweed, aging-management.com (Optimising Health for Longevity): "Finding the right diets, pills, and supplements for a long and healthy life - assessing the evidence"
Aubrey de Grey, Chairman and Chief Science Officer, The Methuselah Foundation: "an engineering project for curing human aging within the present generation"
Join the debate!
Discussion is likely to continue after the event, in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay.
There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.
Venue:
Room 152-153 is on the first floor (via lift B, down the corridor to the right of reception) in the main Birkbeck College building, in Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square). Torrington Square is about 10 minutes walk from either Russell Square or Goodge St tube stations. MAP
This event is sponsored by the UKTA (Extrobritannia), the United Kingdom Transhumanist Association.
Keep an eye on our mailing list for updates.
1.6.08
Technology risks and the survival of humanity: Is emerging technology more likely to destroy human civilisation or to radically enhance it?
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 14th of June 2008, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 539 (fifth floor), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
This meeting previews and summarises some of the discussions that will be taking place in July at the (four day long) conference "Global Catastrophic Risks" that will be taking place in Oxford in July.
This is arguably the single most important topic that can ever be discussed!
Risks worthy of review include:
*) Runaway greenhouse effects and other drastic climate change - vs possible geo-engineering solutions and new, cleaner, sources of energy
*) Nuclear wars provoked by catastrophic nuclear terrorism
*) Supervolcanoes - potentially tamed by future super-strong nanomaterials
*) A global pandemic of some horrible new disease
*) Hazards from comets and asteroids
*) The emergence of malevolent super-AI - vs the chance that super-AI will allow us to find better solutions to our existential risks
Speakers who will lead the discussion include:
Julian Snape - looking at technology risks and solutions from the point of view of both nanotechnology and possible collisions from NEOs (Near Earth Objects - comets and asteroids)
John Dinsdale - looking at technology risks and solutions around Global Warming, Peak Energy (fossil fuel,nuclear) and EROEI (energy return on energy invested)
Join the debate!
Venue:
Birkbeck College - Room 539, 5th floor, Main Building, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square), London WC1E 7HX - MAP
The nearest tube station is Russell Square. Come out of the tube station and turn left, to walk west along Bernard St. Cross over Herbrand St then Woburn Place and keep walking westwards, on the north side of the square. Cross Bedford Way, and turn right into Thornhaugh St, then immediately left to enter Torrington Square through the pedestrian-only courtyard outside SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies). Veer right and you'll see the main entrance to Birkbeck College on the left as you walk up Torrington Square. Take the lift to the 5th floor and follow the signs to room 539.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. If it's your first ExtroBritannia look out for a copy of Ending Aging on display on our table.
Keep an eye on our mailing list for updates.
The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday the 14th of June 2008, 2pm-4pm. Venue: Room 539 (fifth floor), Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is free and everyone’s welcome.
This meeting previews and summarises some of the discussions that will be taking place in July at the (four day long) conference "Global Catastrophic Risks" that will be taking place in Oxford in July.
This is arguably the single most important topic that can ever be discussed!
Risks worthy of review include:
*) Runaway greenhouse effects and other drastic climate change - vs possible geo-engineering solutions and new, cleaner, sources of energy
*) Nuclear wars provoked by catastrophic nuclear terrorism
*) Supervolcanoes - potentially tamed by future super-strong nanomaterials
*) A global pandemic of some horrible new disease
*) Hazards from comets and asteroids
*) The emergence of malevolent super-AI - vs the chance that super-AI will allow us to find better solutions to our existential risks
Speakers who will lead the discussion include:
Julian Snape - looking at technology risks and solutions from the point of view of both nanotechnology and possible collisions from NEOs (Near Earth Objects - comets and asteroids)
John Dinsdale - looking at technology risks and solutions around Global Warming, Peak Energy (fossil fuel,nuclear) and EROEI (energy return on energy invested)
Join the debate!
Venue:
Birkbeck College - Room 539, 5th floor, Main Building, Torrington Square (which is a pedestrian-only square), London WC1E 7HX - MAP
The nearest tube station is Russell Square. Come out of the tube station and turn left, to walk west along Bernard St. Cross over Herbrand St then Woburn Place and keep walking westwards, on the north side of the square. Cross Bedford Way, and turn right into Thornhaugh St, then immediately left to enter Torrington Square through the pedestrian-only courtyard outside SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies). Veer right and you'll see the main entrance to Birkbeck College on the left as you walk up Torrington Square. Take the lift to the 5th floor and follow the signs to room 539.
Discussion is likely to continue after the event in a nearby pub, for those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in "The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube station on Herbrand Street. If it's your first ExtroBritannia look out for a copy of Ending Aging on display on our table.
Keep an eye on our mailing list for updates.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
