Imagine the future – November 9th. The election will be over. Survivors will be welcome. Our theme for the evening will be epic showdowns. Yes, it’s Nerds vs the World! Dollar cover. Doors at 7.
Presentations:
“Ms. Pac-man vs the Patriarchy” by Paul DeGeorge
Ms. Pac-man vs the Patriarchy explores the creation and legacy of the greatest game of the arcade age. Discussed: female protagonists, video game enhancement kits, the Bozeman Think Tank, gameplay tips, bluetime, and The Pretzel.
Paul DeGeorge is an artist, activist, entrepreneur and wizard. He plays in the pioneering wizard rock band Harry and the Potters and co-founded the Harry Potter Alliance, a non-profit organization that connects fans to social justice movements. Paul co-owns Wonder Fair, where he helps to run Lawrence’s best-promoted secret society, the Secret Order of the Black Diamond. He also created a Twitter bot to remind you that it’s time to visit the dentist at 2:30 each day.
“Man vs. Machine: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work” by Kris Adair
For 11,000 year humans have toiled and labored to build the future. We are now entering an era where machines are capable of doing repetitive and labor intensive jobs faster, better and cheaper than human beings. This presentation will talk about the implications of automation on labor and the future of work.
Kris Adair is a long-time Lawrence resident, USD 497 School Board member, and co-founder of Mycroft AI, an open-source artificial intelligence company. In addition to running several companies with her husband she is also a military spouse and fantastic mother.
“People vs. Profits: The Political Ecology of Water and Oil in South America” by David Cooper
The activities of oil and mining companies in South America displace and disrupt the lives of those who live near extraction sites, while destroying local biodiversity and natural systems. Yet, despite these costs, the extraction industry continues unabated; and, in fact, is expanding. This presentation discusses recent events in Ecuador that culminated in the opening of new oil wells in the Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and home to two of the last tribes living in isolation.
David Cooper is a sociology PhD student at KU. His research focuses on Indigenous movements in South America – specifically in the Andes – and the links between natural systems and social systems. He also has an interest in organizing and is the acting president of the graduate teaching assistants’ labor union at KU.