CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
The annual CONTACT conference is an interdisciplinary gathering of scientists, artists and writers. For more than 20 years we have explored human futures in fact and fiction. As always, this year’s CONTACT features a fascinating and eclectic lineup of speakers, symposia and activities. Each day, enjoy a continental breakfast in the conference center before the presentations begin. Mornings and afternoons showcase our speakers and symposia in the main conference room. Other activities go on throughout the weekend elsewhere in the conference center. Here is a brief overview of what you will find at CONTACT. |
| “Science in Literature, Literature in Science” |
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| “The George R. Stewart Symposium” |
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| One theme of this year’s CONTACT is “Science in Literature, Literature in Science.” George R. Stewart was a pioneer in both those areas. Stewart took his scientific colleagues into the field to research places he wrote about. Then he built his novels around the science of his colleagues, developing new forms of storytelling along the way. His best known books include Ordeal By Hunger, Storm, Earth Abides, and Names on the Land. Storm is the first ecological novel and the book from which we get the practice of naming storms. Although not well known himself, Stewart had profound influence on other authors, scientists, and artists. Three of those who have been influenced by him will discuss his work, and theirs: Dr. Jim Burke, Principal Investigator on the Ranger missions to the moon; Dr. John H. Stewart, the US Geological Surveys’ Lead Geologist for Nevada; and Philip Aaberg, Emmy-Nominated musician. |
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| “Writing Between Science and Fiction: Scenarios of Alternative Futures” |
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| Futurists, members of the World Futures Studies Federation and World Futures Society, will reflect on their practice. These professionals research, teach, and practice methods of identifying and describing plausible alternative futures. |
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| Join us as MER project scientist Michael Sims reports on the latest images and information from Mars. |
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| A special presentation of the MER visualization software developed by Jeroen Lapre of Industrial Light and Magic. This innovative tool allows powerful interaction with the data and images of the Mars Exploration Rovers. |
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| The "Lagoon of Tranquility" is an experimental interactive video, tabletop exhibit where participants are encouraged to feed the virtual wildlife and observe their behaviours. |
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| The Art of Presenting the Scale, Form and Relationships of the Universe |
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The Universe in form and detail has revealed itself to humanity in an accelerating rate coupled with technology. Observational, computational
and graphic technology has allowed us map, model and view the
volume of the Universe available for our inspection, physically limited
in space-time.
To understand the scientifically gathered layout of the Universe, a coupling
with art is necessary to communicate it. How we see is as important as
what we see. And while the Universe may not be art itself, its transmission
to a concept within our minds may very well be...
Recent developments in an interactive 3D graphical model of the Universe
with unbounded scale range will be used to demonstrate this premise. |
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| CONTACT has a strong role in education and development of innovative curricula. Technical Illustrator and Gus Frederick steers this symposium. |
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| Cultures Of The Imagination, CONTACT's award winning world building and culture creation program is the foundation for an educational curriculum developed by Oroville High. Two teams of students create two planets, life forms and cultures, and then explore a contact scenario over the weekend of the conference. Carol Anderson and Dave Tamori bring down the Oroville teams again this year to build worlds. Both Carol and Dave are nationally honored teachers, Carol in the sciences and Dave in the arts. |
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| The NAU Solar System Simulation is an on-line laboratory, a MUD, serving undergraduate courses in the social and communications sciences. Students in each class collaborate in building a working model of a community in a shared future Solar System. Each community must be scientifically and historically plausible, ethically and aesthetically desirable, and sustainable. Each instructor brings her own learning objectives appropriate to that particular course. |
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| As always, our art show features work by our presenters, attendees and others. |
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| Art Reception and Social Hour |
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| Friday night, enjoy our traditional reception for the opening of the art show. Good food and drink, first look at the exhibition, good conversation and a chance to get acquainted and exchange ideas. |
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| Banquet and Keynote Presentation |
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| Saturday night, enjoy appetizers and conversation followed by our annual banquet. Later in the evening, hear Andrew Chaikin’s keynote presentation. |
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