Futurism
The NEXUS Working Group on Futurism introduces Members to rapidly advancing, emerging technologies that are poised to significantly alter social, economic, and political conditions worldwide in the next few decades.
Who We Are
The Working Group on Futurism seeks to harness both the diversity and reach of the NEXUS community to raise awareness, inspire conversation, and facilitate action with respect to responsibly participating in and guiding the ethical advancement of these profoundly disruptive technologies.
Definition
Futurism is a broadly encompassing term referring to the advancement of disruptive technologies across industries. These disruptive, or “exponential technologies”, are rapidly emerging in the fields of genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, synthetic organisms, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing (“3D printing”), virtual reality, big data, ubiquitous computing, autonomous systems, and cybernetics. They offer incredible potential to bring about material abundance, elimination of disease, radical life extension, drastic reduction in manual labor, restoration of the environment, and new forms of shared human experience. At the same time, they may open a Pandora’s box of threats, such as hostile AI, mass surveillance, runaway robotic self-replication that consumes natural resources, conflict between humans, extensive job destruction, a further exacerbation of the wealth divide, and the loss of unique cultural aspects and ancient wisdom spread throughout the world.
Mission
The Lab on Futurism at NEXUS seeks to both answer fundamental questions and create interdisciplinary solutions to maximize positive advancement while minimizing the potential for harm. We aim to explore the future of identity and culture while increasing social equality in the face of accelerating technological advancement. Since these developments overlap broad arenas, we aim to collaborate and integrate with other labs and working groups while also accounting for potential environmental impacts these technologies may bring.
OUR AMBASSADORS
Adam schlenger
NEXUS Futurism Working Group Co-Chair
Adam Schlenger is a marine climate scientist studying ecosystem resiliency to climate change. His research aims to bridge the gap between science, economics, and policy to create global environmental solutions. As a surfer, backpacker, and general outdoor enthusiast, AJ’s passion lies in preserving the natural world. He now uses his expertise to strategize mechanisms that transform the current mindset of individual sustainability and create a positive global impact through conscious living. He is a co-chair for NEXUS Futurism Working Group, co-founder of Covalence LLC, and currently developing an adaptive education startup focusing on big data analyses for sustainable initiatives.
Orian Marx
NEXUS Futurism Working Group Co-Chair
Orian Marx is an entrepreneur, web developer, personal development educator, and futurist. He was a founder of multiple startups developing software to help knowledge workers more effectively utilize the blogosphere and Twitter, and later was the Developer Advocate for App.net – a San Francisco startup that garnered significant attention for building a social network that would never be funded by advertising dollars. He is currently focused on developing an online personal development program, growing the NEXUS Futurism Working Group, and pursuing his travel, photography, and swing dance hobbies. He resides in NYC, where he was born and raised.
Nathan Walworth
NEXUS Futurism Working Group Co-Chair
Dr. Nathan Walworth (PhD) is an entrepreneurial climate scientist and futurist whose work lies at the intersection of exponential tech, carbon removal, regeneration, culture prediction, DNA sequencing, and the marine microbiome. His environmental research has taken him from the Tropics to Antarctica. He has previously co-founded several startups across diverse industries from sustainable fashion to cannabis. He is Co-founder and VP of Science at Project Vesta where he leads the science teams to scale nature-based strategies in gigaton carbon removal.
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Nashelley Kaplan-Dailey
NEXUS Futurism Working Group Co-Chair
Nashelley is in perpetual pursuit of visionary solutions to our growing natural resource challenges. Through Nash2O, she acts as a strategist and executionist, helping social entrepreneurs scale their impact and change the world. An attorney by training, a consultant by circumstance, an advocate for justice and equity by privilege. Advancing an evolved ethos of win-win solutions where stewardship is not the enemy of ROI and the value of healthy, functioning systems exceeds those broken down to their constituent parts. Nashelley brings a suite of experience and interests to the Futurism Working Group: start-ups, emerging tech, law, policy, governance, markets and people.
Goals
The NEXUS Working Group on Futurism seeks to advance four key areas that are drastically underdeveloped with respect to disruptive technologies in which NEXUS can make significant contribution to improving. These are:
- Lack of awareness, both in the mainstream and in leadership positions in government, business, and activism
- Lack of diversity within the communities conducting the research and development work
- Lack of ethical consensus as to the development and deployment of these technologies
- Lack of well-informed governance over the development and deployment of these technologies.
Actions
- Salon discussion series focused upon a variety of potentially disruptive technologies and their impact on the economy, society, and the environment.
- Delegations to organizations, governments, or scientific laboratories to introduce NEXUS members to emerging trends in Futurism.
- Expert speakers and panels at NEXUS Summit events.
- Conference call discussions between NEXUS Members and experts working directly with disruptive technologies.
Get Involved with Futurism
To see what Futurism Salons, Delegations and other events are upcoming, please reach out. Please note, most Futurism Group events are limited to members only. Not a member? Membership is based on your application, acceptance and attendance to a multi-day event. Click here to see our next upcoming Summits.
