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Swissnex Hosts Four-Day Symposium From Fiction to Science to Explore Interplay of Fiction and Scientific Innovation

Posted on: Thursday, 23 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- swissnex presents From Fiction to Science, a four-day event examining the mutually influencing domains of science and fiction. The event takes place from September 29 to October 2 at swissnex in San Francisco.

Series description: The four-day symposium From Fiction to Science will be hosted by swissnex (http://www.swissnex.org/) in collaboration with the Swiss science- fiction museum House of Elsewhere (http://www.ailleurs.ch/) and the newly-opened Seattle Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (http://www.sciencefictionexperience.com/). Panel members include Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier and former White House advisor and author Gregory Benford.

-- Automata, September 29, 6:30 pm

A demonstration from Francois Junod, one of the last living makers of

automata will be followed by Dave Grossman's (Stanford University)

presentation Survey of Strangely Animated Machines from Ancient Egypt

to 1990.

-- Autonomous Robots, September 30, 6:30 pm

Dario Floreano, whose research inspired The Prey by Michael Crichton

demonstrates insect-like robots before Dave Korsmeyer (NASA Ames)

presents Space Exploration: NASA's Quest for Autonomy. Author Rudy

Rucker examines society's interest in intelligent robots.

-- Human Augmentation, October 1, 6:30pm

Swiss Astronaut Claude Nicollier describes his experiences with the

robotic arm of the International Space Station, Gregeory Benford

discusses the power of a man-machine in Man Plus. Author David Brin

explains how science-fiction acts as a warning to society in Probing

for Quicksand: how we Peer a bit Ahead, Into Tomorrow's World.

-- Mars, October 2, 2:15 pm

Richard Kornfeld (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) relates his Impressions

From a Trip to Mars and discusses the Mars Exploration Rover Mission.

Kim Stanley Robinson presents Mars: From Facts to Fiction.

An art exhibit on loan from the House of Elsewhere entitled Science Fiction, Technology Fact presents vintage science-fiction images with recent NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) photographs.

swissnex, the host of the event, accelerates the knowledge transfer between Switzerland and the West Coast. As part of its services to increase visibility for Switzerland, swissnex launches ideas, facilitates strategic relationships, host events and devises study tours and symposia, from its offices and conference space at 730 Montgomery Street.

Further information: http://www.swissnex.org/event-scifi.html

swissnex

CONTACT: Charlotte Jourdain of swissnex, +1-415-912-5901, ext. 101. orcharlotte.jourdain@swissnex.org

Web site: http://www.swissnex.org/

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