Humankind today finds itself in a financial meltdown, but with extraordinary new technology that will change our world and change humans themselves. Today's science could lead to far more exciting lives and glorious civilizations than those of today. At the same time, we are steadily wrecking our small and totally isolated planet.
Dr James Martin will deliver a public lecture on "Our Future: Understanding the Big Picture" on Thursday 11 March at 18:30 in the Eden Grove Red Lecture Theatre for anyone who is interested in the bigger picture of our planet’s future.
He will discuss a number of issues including the fact that in the next three decades the world's population will increase by twice the population of China. It will demand forms of consumption far beyond what the earth can provide. He will also look at how we are travelling at breakneck speed into an age of extremes - extremes in wealth and poverty, extremes in technology, and extreme forces of globalism.
We need to understand our situation with clarity, and learn how to manage it. However the political will is not commensurate with the problems we face. In spite of recent successes in multidisciplinary study in some Universities, the big picture of our future is often not clear. People cannot connect the dots.
The issues discussed are the subject matter of the 15 multidisciplinary Institutes of the James Martin 21st-Century School at the University of Oxford. The School is going through extraordinary transitions that will double its capability.
Dr Martin was awarded a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) in 1999 by Rhodes University. He is ranked 4th among the 25 individuals who have most influenced the world of computer science and was a pioneer of the automation of software development. Dr Martin has written more than 104 textbooks. His latest book, The Meaning of the 21st Century has been made into a major film. He founded the James Martin 21st Century School which now has 15 Institutes at the University of Oxford.
Dr Martin will also be speaking at a Humanities seminar which will take place at the Humanities Faculty on Friday 12 March at 12h00. The title of his talk is, 'Our future and the Problems and Opportunities which need to be addressed'