Convergence08: Nanotech Meets Biotech

The Convergence08 Unconference plans to be a free-wheeling discussion about nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other world-changing technologies. What makes it an "unconference" is that it's largely unstructured. Each day will begin and end with a debate on "controversial Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno topics", including synthetic biology, longevity and artificial intelligence. The rest of the agenda is set by the participants. Of course, the success of the conference is highly dependent on the participants. The list of "debators" makes it look like it will be quite interesting:

Synthetic Biology Debate

• Dr. Chris Anderson, bioengineering professor at UC Berkeley
  
• Denise Caruso, executive director of Hybrid Vigor Institute
• Dr. Gregory Benford, physics professor at UC Irvine, founder Genescient [not to mention the author of a few science fiction novels]
• Andrew Hessel, consulting biologist and author

Artificial Intelligence Debate

• Dr. Ben Goertzel, CEO of Novamente, chair of AGIRI
• Dr. Peter Norvig, director of research at Google
• Dr. Steve Omohundro, founder and president of Self-Aware Systems
• Dr. Barney Pell, founder of Powerset, search strategist at Microsoft

Longevity Intervention Debate

• Dr. Bruce Ames, biochemistry professor at UC Berkeley, founder of Juvenon
• Dr. Aubrey de Grey, chairman of The Methuselah Foundation
• Terry Grossman, MD, co-author, Fantastic Voyage
• Dr. Chris Heward, president of Kronos Science Laboratories

I can envision the discussions delving into topics that are more fiction than science. Very cool.

Convergence08 will be held November 15-16 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. Early bird registration rates are available until October 20th.

Tags:Convergence08, biotechnology, nanotechnology, transhumanism