PAUL SYKES MEMORIAL LECTURE

Topic: The Science Fiction Vision

The speaker for our annual Paul Sykes Memorial Lecture will be Mr. Robert Sawyer.

Room: Saywell Hall, Room SWH10081 adjacent to the Atrium, SFU Burnaby Campus

Speaker Bio: Robert Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world’s top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award , and he’s the first author in thirty years to receive a Lifetime Achievement Aurora Award.

Abstract: Robert J. Sawyer — "just about the best science-fiction writer out there," according to the Denver Rocky Mountain News — sets the stage for thinking about the rapid pace of change that's coming down the pike by showing how science fiction visions are increasingly becoming real. Captain Kirk's communicator and tricorder are now embodied in our smartphones; robots have walked off the pages of science fiction into our living rooms; and the Jetsons' hyperconnected lifestyle has become our daily reality. Rob shows why science fiction has been called "the only preventive medicine for Future Shock," and explains how extrapolative science-fiction thinking and rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies can aid businesses as they rush to meet the future.

About our Events:

All RASC lectures and observing events are open to the public, family friendly, and there is no charge for admission. Our organization is run entirely by volunteers who love astronomy and astrophysics. Whether you're a complete beginner, a seasoned astronomer, or you hope to work for NASA some day, anyone fascinated by space exploration is welcome and will enjoy our events