The Really Big Questions: conference 6-8 October

[Martin]

At least this should be a worldclass science media event.

 

STARTS TOMORROW (Thursday 6 October)

18 Nobel laureates to attend this one.

Private foundation money. (may be some I.D. religious spin)

Admission to the 3 days of talks costs $500

Location: Zellerbach concert hall on campus of UC Berkeley.

 

Homepage:

http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symposium.asp

("Amazing Light: Visions for Discovery" international symposium in honor of Charles Townes)

 

Summary of Program:

http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symp_over.asp

(1. major unknowns, 2. possible new technology, 3. future of science and fringe questions like philosophy and religion)

 

Day 1: "The Ocean of Truth—-- Exploring the Great Unknowns in Physics and Cosmology"

http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symp_day1.asp

 

"We will consider the astonishing fact that no one understands the source of most of the gravitational interaction in the universe: What is dark matter? What is dark energy? What is the nature of a vacuum?..."

 

Expect mostly BS----nobody there from nonperturbative quantum gravity, where the main progress is being made (dont have Reuter, Loll, Smolin, Rovelli)---probable field day for speculation jockeys.

 

Day 2: "New Windows to Discovery--Exploring Possibilities for Innovative Technologies"

http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symp_day2.asp

"What new technologies can emerge from advances in pursuing the frontier of quantum knowledge?"

 

Could be OK, Ted Hänsch and Steve Chu will be talking.

 

 

Day 3: "The 'Big Picture'--Exploring Questions on the Boundaries of Science"

 

http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/symp_day3.asp

 

"How can progress be made in the quest for "ultimate explanations" in cosmology? Is the universe a purposive order? What are the logical dynamics of the "3-M circle" of ultimate explanation--Mind-Math-Matter?

What is consciousness? Do we have free will? Is the concept of "causal closure" a real constraint from physics that is also applicable to the nature of the mind?

Is there life "out there"? Is life in any sense written into the laws of nature?

How can ethical culture and institutions be strengthened to respond to the accelerating growth of technological power? What should scientists do to address the ethical challenges raised by the astonishing success of their enterprise? Are new habits, new covenants, new institutions, and new cultures needed for the future of science and for the appropriate stewardship of its accelerating powers?"

 

The questions are kind of interesting, but look who the speakers are!

Leonard Susskind and Michio Kaku