GCRI is pleased to announce the launch of its newest resource for the global catastrophic risk community, a conferences directory. The directory features 66 conferences across 6 continents (all but Antarctica), each with a brief description, conference dates, and location.
The conferences directory covers a wide variety of GCR topics. Most of the conferences involve specific GCR topics like climate change, emerging technologies, infectious disease, and nuclear war. Other conferences cover cross-cutting issues like astrobiology and uncertainty. A few conferences are about GCR specifically.
Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Governance of Emerging Technologies: Law, Policy and Ethics in Chandler, Arizona, USA (20-21 May 2013) takes a fascinating look at the legal, policy, social, and ethical issues related to GRINN technologies—genetics, robotics, information technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience. If you are interested in emerging technologies governance, you do not want to miss this.
The Fifth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts and Responses in Port-Louis, Mauritius (18-19 July 2013) explores climate change causes and solutions with a focus on Africa. The conference also features compelling speakers like Dr. Richard Munang, the UN Environment Programme Policy & Programme Coordinator for the Climate Change Adaptation & Development programme for Africa.
Superbugs and Superdrugs – A Focus on Antibacterials in London, UK (4-5 March 2013) brings together academics, regulators, big pharma, and biotech companies to brainstorm ways to fight drug resistance and develop effective vaccines. This sort of work is crucial to prevent a global catastrophe from an infectious disease.
The IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference South Asia Satellite Conference in Trivandrum, India (23-34 August 2013) explores topics like ‘Distributed Renewable Energy Generation’ and ‘Microgrids and Emerging Technologies for Humanitarian Applications.’ This is the first year of this satellite conference, and I am hopeful of its success.
We will add more conferences as we become aware of them. If you have a conference suggestion or any general feedback, please let us know via our contact form. We especially hope to include more conferences for the underrepresented continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.
Credit for the conferences directory goes to Seth Baum and Grant Wilson.
