The “Inventing the Future” Symposium Expects a Record Number of Science Fiction Writers and Scientists from Around the World
Registration
has begun for speakers and delegates at the International Science Fiction
Symposium “Inventing the Future,” the inaugural event of the Russia National
Centre, created under the directive of the President of the Russian Federation.
Russia
initiated the Symposium as a platform for equitable dialogue between different
countries. Prominent scientists, philosophers, futurists, popular science
fiction writers, as well as representatives of business and creative industries
from Russia, China, India, Italy, Iran, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Serbia,
Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands have already confirmed their
participation. The “Inventing the Future” Symposium is expected to gather
around 3,000 participants from SCO, BRICS, CIS countries, and others. Discussions will revolve around the future of
Earth, the impact of technology on society, humanity’s role in the development
of civilization, and, most importantly, what the human of the future will be
like.
The
International Science Fiction Symposium “Inventing the Future” will be held
from November 4 to 6. The event’s mission is to rekindle the society’s interest
in shaping the future.
The
role of the younger generation in designing the future is particularly crucial,
as today’s students will be tasked with addressing major challenges and
responding to global issues tomorrow.
Scientists,
researchers, futurists, forecasters, science fiction writers, and
representatives of government and business will share their perspectives on the
future. They will discuss the emergence of future cultures and creative fields;
key technologies that will trigger transformation of the world and society;
provide forecasts for social change; and formulate scenarios for the
development of humanity, taking into account global ethical and philosophical
questions.
The
Symposium’s opening will also mark the launch of an exhibition supporting the
dialogue about the future, with humanity at the center.
The
first chapter of the exhibition will demonstrate the continuity of innovation,
from the ideas of visionaries and science fictionists around the world to the
accomplishments of inventors. The main goal is to inspire and encourage the
pursuit of invention and science fiction.
The
second chapter will present works by young artists from Russia, China, India,
Iran and Ethiopia elaborating on the "Heritage for the Future” topic.
Semyon Mikhailovsky, Rector of Ilya Repin St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, is
the curator of this exhibition. The exhibition project claims that the future
will be left to Man if we can preserve our ability to dream, and find a
creative approach to the future in the form of a dialog.
The
final chapter is a space where the visitors themselves can become creators of
the future, reflect on ideas and propose the new ones to improve the world. The
central art object will simultaneously serve as a lecture hall — a dialogue
space and the culmination of the exhibition, aimed at inspiring new thoughts
about a shared future for each visitor.
The
exhibition will make each visitor realize the importance of personal
contribution to the future and will cause a desire to become involved in its
creation.
On
July 1, 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree establishing the Russia
National Centre to preserve the legacy of the Exhibition and showcase the
country’s achievements on a permanent basis. The centre will be located on the
Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment in Moscow.