The Future of Work: How Technology Will Change the Way We Work

Technology has dramatically changed the way we work: it automates processes, collects and organizes our information, and offers new lines for global communication. It both opens new industries and shutters traditional strongholds at an accelerating pace, and it continually redefines what it means to “work” in the world today. Advances in areas such as robotics and artificial intelligence have caused equal amounts of excitement and alarm. How will technology of the future continue affect our work? Will the pace of innovation continue to accelerate?

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science are pleased to co-present this program.

SPEAKERS:

Larry Birnbaum, chief scientific advisor of Narrative Science and professor of electrical engineering and computer science and journalism at Northwestern University. Birnbaum’s research is focused on natural language processing, intelligent information systems, and human-computer interaction. He received his BS and PhD from Yale University, where he served as a faculty member in computer science before joining Northwestern.

Kris Hammond, co-founder and chief scientist of Narrative Science, a company that turns data into actionable stories and insights. Hammond is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science and journalism at Northwestern University. Prior to joining the faculty at Northwestern, he founded the University of Chicago’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

Malcolm MacIver, associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. MacIver pioneered the development of a sensor inspired by the ability of certain fish to sense using a self-generated electric field and maneuverable propulsion systems based on fish locomotion. He develops science-inspired interactive art installations, and has served as science adviser for science fiction TV series and movies, including Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica, Tron: Legacy, Superman, and Man of Steel, and has blogged for Discover Magazine.

Joel Mokyr, the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences and professor of economics and history at Northwestern University, and the Sackler Professor at the Eitan Berglas School of Economics at the University of Tel Aviv. Mokyr specializes in economic history and the economics of technological and population change. He has authored more than 80 articles and books, including his most recent book,The Enlightened.

Moderator: Julio M. Ottino Dean, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University

DETAILS: Wednesday, October 29, 2014, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Northwestern University Chicago Campus, 303 E. Superior St., Hughes Auditorium, Chicago, IL, 60611.  4 p.m. welcome and introductions, 4:15 – 4:45 Kris Hammond and Larry Birnbaum, 4:45-5:15 Malcolm MacIver, 5:15-5:45 Joel Mokyr, 5:45-6:15 Q&A and wrap-up, 6:15 reception and networking. Admission is free. Discounted parking is available to the first 50 attendees, at the 202 E Huron parking garage. Ask at the C2ST registration table, and you can purchase a ticket to exit the garage at a discounted rate.

Contact Andrea Poet at apoet@c2st.org or 312-567-5795 with any questions.

Please register by following this link: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9qth7zw4b1883b5&oseq=&c=&ch=

ABOUT C2ST: Chicago Council on Science and Technology is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that brings researchers and scientists out of the lab, directly to you. We work with national laboratories, leading academic institutions and museums to educate the public on issues of critical scientific importance. In an age when barely one in four voting adults meet a basic level of scientific literacy, we aim to reignite an excitement and passion for science and technology, and remind Chicagoans of the quality and quantity of R&D that takes place in their backyard.