Course Description: What might the future hold? It will be astonishing! Join Dr. Richard Scribner for this informative, stimulating, and thought-provoking exploration of what the future might have in store for humanity. Course coverage includes but will not be limited to the following:
- Reviewing the origins of life, and what we humans bring to our future
- Probing predictions and new opportunities. Are we up to the challenges?
- Assessing population growth, artificial intelligence, and civilization’s threats
- Exploring the future of human health, longevity, and human capabilities
- Examining impacts of new ways of traveling, and of generating energy
- Considering space exploration, and extraterrestrial intelligent life
- Understanding Earth’s future, the vastness of space, and the “era of stars”
- Contextualizing challenges we face and what we must do to meet them
Instructor: Richard Allan Scribner, PhD (physics), was a Georgetown University professor directing its Science, Technology, and International Affairs program. Earlier, he created the now 50-year-old American Association for the Advancement of Science Policy Fellows Program beginning with the Congressional Science and Engineering fellowships and in arms control, environmental, and international areas. As a State Department official, he led nuclear nonproliferation negotiations. Later, he was the founding Director of a counterterrorist research institute at Dartmouth; and a consultant to the Homeland Security Department. He has authored/coauthored books & articles on scientific research, arms control, science and public policy, and climate change. Fathoming what the future might hold is a hobby.
Location: St. Peters Episcopal Church, 801 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Room 201
Day and Time: Tuesdays, January 31 through March 21, 9:30-11:30. 8 Sessions.
Fee: $50
Materials: Handouts and email articles provided by instructor.
