Mark Stevenson: An Optimist's Tour of the Future

"Blind optimism is the last thing the world needs-it's a recipe for disappointment. But what about optimism based on careful reasoning? ...That's what's on offer here. Stevenson's tools are curiosity, open-mindedness, clarity, and reason. That makes his journey intriguing ...and ultimately exhilarating." _Chris Anderson, TED Curator

When unexpectedly confronted with his own mortality, Mark Stevenson - a writer, deep thinker, and stand-up comedian - began to ponder what the future holds for our species. The future is an unknown and increasingly alarming territory, yet there is no guidebook. The author traveled the globe pursuing answers. He visited the Australian outback to meet farmers who can save us from climate change; he met a robot with mood swings, had his genome profiled, and talked to a Spaniard who's putting a hotel in space. While some of us may be bewildered or dismayed by the looming realities of genome sequencing, synthetic biology, sociable machines and carbon scrubbing, Stevenson remains optimistic. Drawing on his brilliant scientific understanding, stand-up humor and storytelling skills, he delivers an enthralling vision of our future - and why it's not so scary at all.

Co-director of Flow Associates, Britain's most respected cultural learning consultancy, and ReAgency, a leading organization promoting science communications, Mark Stevenson is "a uniquely funny and unashamedly intelligent comedic talent." Stevenson was an editor at an IT industry think tank before mixing two careers as a musician and an expert in prime number cryptography. He works with museums, galleries, and archives around the globe to promote learning. He was recently elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Manufacture, and Commerce and currently lives in London.

Hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert

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