Foresight Synergy Network (FSN)

Update 2: Here is the link to the slides are at https://bit.ly/BTdriversEN in English and https://bit.ly/BTdriversFR in French.

Update: Part 2 of Steffen’s presentation will be tomorrow [July 19, 12:30 to 3:30 pm, DMS Room 4165].

Next FSN meeting is on July 6 [12:30 – 3:30 pm, Room 7170 at Telfer School of Management] on ‘Canada beyond 150’ by Dr. Steffen Christensen [bio]. He is Canada’s most knowledgeable and insightful public sector futurist. Try to make it for his talk on the future of work.

Next FSN meeting is June 25 [12 – 3 pm, Room 7170 at Telfer School of Management] on “The Evolution of DNA” by Larry Moran.

Abstract: What’s in Your Genome?
Your genome consists of 23 pieces of DNA containing 3.2 billion base pairs. The order, or sequence, of these bases is what determines the function of your genome. Scientists have been working hard for the past 50 years in order to figure out what’s in your genome. We now have some pretty good answers to this question. We will talk about how many genes you have and the functions of other important stretches of DNA. In my opinion, the best available evidence indicates that 90% of your genome is useless junk!
This conclusion is controversial. A great many scientists disagree. The reasons for the controversy will lead us into a discussion of evolution and why the Dawkins’ view of selfish genes is wrong. We’ll also talk about other explanations for why the idea of junk DNA is so strongly resisted by some scientists and why the popular press has misrepresented the scientific literature in an attempt to discredit junk DNA.

About: Laurence (Larry) A. Moran is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His main interests these days are molecular evolution and science education. He is the author of a popular undergraduate textbook of biochemistry and numerous articles on his blog “Sandwalk.” (sandwalk.blogspot.com/)

Next FSN meeting is May 25, 12 pm in DMS 7170. Alan Emory [link to bio] on Mapping a safe future for Canada in the face of inevitable severe global warming impacts.

Abstract
Based on the present behaviour of the nations of the world and their de facto commitment to at least some measure of the Paris Agreements, the world will be subjected to high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases likely reaching between 700 and 1600ppm CO 2 and temperature increases of between 5 0 C and 11 0 C over the next several hundred years. This will result in severe and unavoidable global warming impacts sufficient to potentially destabilize global civil society, but will also leave Canada in a relatively benign, but vastly changed climate. With potentially billions of climate refugees world-wide, Canada and Siberia will be the two main safe climate havens for the world population. Following a description of these inevitable changes and impacts, as well as a short outline of some options for both industry and government, the workshop will develop a series of mechanisms to cope with the changed environmental, social, economic, and political environments. One unlikely option can be addressed as well – a globally directed emergency measure to transition rapidly away from using fossil fuels and a rapid reduction of atmospheric CO 2 to pre-industrial levels of about 280ppm that would avoid the calamitous global warming impacts.
The workshop approach will use global climate change scenarios that have been predicted by the scientific community as the basis from which to develop safe routes to a secure future for Canada in the face of intense pressure to provide the world with freshwater, agricultural potential, favourable climatic conditions, stable government, and a vastly increased infrastructure to handle something on the order of a billion or more people within 300 years. Break out groups will have the opportunity to map realistic and implementable action plans and events leading to solutions in the environment of a super wicked problem.

P.S. Summary of future events:

Next FSN meeting is May 4, 12 pm in DMS 7170.

Tony Patterson, Editor of Silicon Valley North, lead a discussion on the Central Canada Technology corridor. Tony is an experienced high technology journalist ; and is /or was the Editor of Silicon Valley North.

P.S. Summary of future events:

Update: Here are the slides – Cryptography 30 Jan.

Hello,

The next FSN meeting will be next TUESDAY [Jan. 30 at 12 pm in DMS 7170] by Peter Chapman on Cryptography – here is the abstract of the presentation:

Abstract Crytpo presentation

If you will be outside Ottawa and would like to connect via Skype please contact me at: SValiyani@gmail.com; I may be able to arrange a connection.

Regards,
Sameer