Biotechnology is entering an exciting new phase in its rapid evolution: democratization. Democratization means that biotechnology is moving out of traditional labs, and into our homes and communities. From teenagers engineering yeast in their bedrooms, to gene editing in the womb, to animal-free meat and prospecting for million-dollar microbes on the open sea, this new phase of biotechnology is full of opportunities.

The discussion and design of smart cities has focused on how to digitize the complex processes that define the city and on how, in turn, to instrumentalize the collected data for the optimization of such processes. This webinar will explore possibilities for turning data collection and use into a tangible phenomenon that animates public spaces and engages citizens.

Information is power, and as information goes digital, more and more of that information, or power, is becoming available. Exploring the Future of Work, Anuj Chandarana will demonstrate that having an imbalance of information or power in the employee/employer relationship can disrupt the trust that is required to make work productive.

While we enjoy a great quality of life enabled by tremendous advances in technology, some people don’t even have the basic necessities. One telling example is that 1.2 billion people in the world live without electric light, with substantial negative impact to productivity, education and security.

It is clear that business as usual is no longer an option. The demands for businesses to put “purpose” at the center of their work is coming from all directions. Top talent is demanding opportunities to do meaningful work, consumers are demanding products and services that allow them to “shop their values,” and shareholder activism is on the rise.

The public perception of robots is often focused on the best drones to buy for the holidays, the latest research videos of robots doing parkour, and the question of when it will be possible to sleep in on the way to work. Developing world-changing technologies in this way requires hundred of millions, if not billions of dollars. Fortunately, there is so much more that autonomous systems are capable of, and not everything needs a massive budget to make a global impact.

With apps, wearables and AI, health care is moving beyond the doctor’s office. As health care is becoming increasingly predictive, personalized and precise in an era of exponential technologies, how can doctors adapt and stay relevant?

A scientist, biomedical engineer, medical innovator, doctor in training (MDPhD) and entrepreneur, Philip has experienced first-hand the challenges doctors face in this rapidly changing field. In this webinar, he will explore the opportunities and implications of exponential technologies in medicine and health care.

Blockchain is touted as the backbone of the world’s future financial system. But its greatest impacts won’t be seen on the trading floor at the TSX – they’ll be seen across the far corners of the earth in countries where people don’t have access to basic human rights. Blockchains can enable freedom of speech, access to social mobility and will help to bring whole economies out of poverty.

Advancements in machine learning and AI are enabling robots to become increasingly human-like and social. Over the next couple of decades there will be positive and negative impacts to life and society as robots increasingly understand how humans think and feel. This talk will describe how machines that look, move, and think like us may soon emerge. It will focus on the breakthroughs that are enabling AI minds to become more and more indistinguishable from human intelligence, and will address some of the social, economic and ethical questions that arise from these breakthroughs.

Changing energy economics is putting pressure on the Canadian economy. At the same time, it is creating enormous opportunity to grow our future economy based on new technologies. Is clean technology an unparalleled risk for the oil and gas industry, or an opportunity for exponential growth?

Although primarily known for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain technology is opening a new field of research into new forms of societal governance. Could the killer app of the blockchain be a completely new way for people to interact and transact?

Food is at the epicenter of exponential technological transformation and is already being redefined by artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and synthetic biology. With food at this intersection, we are witnessing a Second Green Revolution that is evolving what we eat, what food is, and how food is produced. In this speculative future, we explore what a new food system can look like that is built from the ground up, and fundamentally how we as individuals will contribute to this new food revolution.

As Vice-President at Magnet Forensics, Neil leads strategic engagement with leaders from policing, national security and government agencies to support their digital transformations in the realm of cyber-investigations.

From cybersecurity and cybercrime to digital government and the policy implications of emerging tech, Neil is one of the leading voices asking the BIG questions about cybersecurity and governance in the information age.