Highlights

Futurists On What’s Next in Medicine, Agriculture, Architecture, and More

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Predicting the future in a fast-changing world is almost impossible, but these speakers’ clear-eyed expertise allows them to share informed and surprising insights that help audiences face uncertainty armed with information and optimism. From agriculture and medicine to cybersecurity and urban living, these futurists are available for remote and in-person engagements to explain the technology of tomorrow so we can thrive today.

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David Ewing Duncan

Award-winning science and technology journalist and bestselling author of Talking to Robots

David Ewing Duncan is an award-winning science and technology journalist who helps audiences recognize the limitless possibilities of remarkable advances like artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and telemedicine. In his latest book, Talking to Robots, and his engaging lectures, he describes how these extraordinary inventions will become part of our daily lives, revolutionizing medicine, education, and commerce, and eventually changing our understanding of humanity. Duncan’s realistic and thoughtful insights ask us to take both the upsides and downsides of powerful new tech seriously as we enter what he calls the Early Robot Era.

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Marc Goodman

Global security advisor, futurist, and New York Times bestselling author of Future Crimes

Global security expert and Future Crimes author Marc Goodman is one of the most trusted voices on cybersecurity issues, establishing himself as an authority on securing a life lived digitally well before hacks and data leaks became regular news items. Goodman has educated thousands of individuals and dozens of organizations on practical ways to ensure their safety in a world of unpredictable threats that evolve with stunning speed. An accomplished speaker who balances the sobering realities of cybersecurity threats with actionable strategies for protection, Goodman empowers audiences to take control of their digital security without sacrificing the opportunities of technological innovation.

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Paul Greenberg

James Beard Award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food and American Catch: The Fight for Our Local Seafood

The James Beard Award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Four Fish, Paul Greenberg is the primary authority on seafood and marine sustainability. He lectures widely on ocean sustainability, the culinary history of fish and shellfish and the many complex health issues surrounding seafood consumption.

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Private: Scott Harrison

Founder and CEO of charity:water and social entrepreneur

After volunteering as a photojournalist on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa for two years, Scott Harrison returned home to New York City and founded charity: water. As the founder and CEO of charity: water, a nonprofit organization, he made it his mission to bring clean and safe drinking water to communities in need. Through radical transparency and a strong 100% model, charity: water has brought clean water to over 7 million people worldwide.

Ed Humes

Edward Humes

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Garbology

Edward Humes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who addresses our national waste crisis, the environmental consequences of our global supply chain, and identifies paths to sustainability. He also deftly examines the history of transportation and the important issues and questions our “have-it-now” economy has on our world and its future.

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Daniel Libeskind

World-renowned architect and expert in urban design

Architect and urban designer Daniel Libeskind brings structures to cities around the world that are not only visually striking but also integrated into the life of its residents. Libeskind is a passionate advocate for “smart cities,” or cities that blend technology and accessibility to provide residents with the resources they need to improve their quality of life. Whether finding an opportunity for improvement in existing city structures or discussing how new buildings and public spaces can revitalize the economy, Libeskind shows how creativity and an understanding of our architectural past are key for building the cities of the future.

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Bren Smith

Restorative ocean farmer, co-founder of GreenWave, and author of Eat Like a Fish

As a young fisherman, Bren Smith found himself troubled by the destruction the commercial trawlers he worked on left behind on the ocean floor. In response, he pioneered a technique called 3D ocean farming, taking a revolutionary approach to growing seafood in a way that absorbs carbon, acts as storm surge protection, and restores water quality while creating food and employment for the surrounding community. In his talks, he shares his story of ecological redemption and provides a ray of hope in the discourse surrounding our environment with his compelling solution to climate change.

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Private: Bina Venkataraman

Author of The Optimist’s Telescope, columnist at The Washington Post, and a fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center

Bina Venkataraman is a former journalist and Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation under the Obama Administration, a role in which she worked to forge partnerships across communities, companies, and the government to prepare for climate change disasters. Her book, The Optimist’s Telescope, explores the ways that we can plan better for the future in a time where it’s easy to move forward without thinking, highlighting examples throughout history and drawing from research in biology, psychology, and economics. Her presentations, including her newly-released TED Talk, urge listeners to replace a “legacy building” approach to the future with “heirloom thinking” to improve their ability to make long-term decisions.

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Alice Waters

Chef, author, activist, and founder of Chez Panisse restaurant and the Edible Schoolyard Project

Founder of Chez Panisse restaurant and the Edible Schoolyard Project Alice Waters is internationally recognized as the pioneer of a movement that advocates for just, sustainable, and organic food. Over the course of 40 years, she has been passionately committed to finding the highest-quality, seasonal ingredients that are both sustainable and locally sourced. She speaks on the importance of edible education in our school system, food ethics and values, just and sustainable agriculture, and the transformative power of growing, cooking, and sharing food.