 |
Strategic News Service, the first paid subscription newsletter on the internet, was started 25 years ago. In honor of our 25th birthday, we're launching a new community platform (stay tuned for your invitation); hosting a new virtual FiReSide Event every month, offering members an intimate conversation with global leaders and a chance to interact with one another (see below); adding a new shop so members can look even cooler in their next Teams meetings (coming right up); and generally continuing a yearlong celebration to carry us into the next 25 years. First up is August FiReSide: Register now or save the date! But don't tarry. Seats are limited for this special set of environmental FiReSide interviews, Q&As, and Attendee Breakouts with Amory Lovins and 2 other experts on August 20:
THE ART and SCIENCE An Interview with Mark Anderson By David Brin Hosted by Berit Anderson SNS 25th Anniversary Event Introduction: In this 25th year of publishing the SNS Global Report, I had the distinct honor, and personal pleasure, of being interviewed last week by my good friend (and now, as you will soon see, "bro") David Brin. David and I have been friends and colleagues for decades, sharing the work and idea load on everything from SNS Project Inkwell to INVNT/IP to more delightful conversations about his (and my) favorite subject: physics. In this transcript of our session together from last week's worldwide Zoom session ("Tiananmen, Tiananmen") you will find the first public interview of my career, on the subject of "The Art and Science of Predicting." Yes, I have done many interviews in my life, but always about other people and ideas. My deep thanks go to David for making this so much fun, while diving deeply into what I believe really matters. I can't wait until we do it again, in just 25 more years. - mra
The Art and Science of Predicting Berit Anderson: It is my pleasure to introduce David, who is a scientist, inventor, and New York Times bestselling author. His most recent books, Insistence of Vision and Chasing Shadows, use short stories to probe the limits of what's possible or probable. David has won many, many, many awards, and a film directed by Kevin Costner was based on his novel The Postman. He also serves on advisory panels ranging from astronomy, space exploration, nanotech, and SETI to national defense and technological ethics. So he is perhaps the most perfect person we could have picked to be the interviewer for this conversation. So, David - take it away. David Brin: Well, I was preparing a lavish and flattering interview for Mark Anderson, but his daughter did that more than successfully. I just want to mention that the guy has such a wide range of interests in which he has dabbled and meddled, but I truly consider him to be my bro. Marine biology, physics, predictions on economics, and the most-watched 60 Minutes investigative episode in history, having to do with China.
So, let me just start out with, Mark, this discussion is labeled "The Art and Science of Predicting." Which is it: art or science? Mark Anderson: You know, I think you'd almost have to define what that means, David. What is art, in particular? But there are definitely two parts to this that at least feel like art and science, and the science part is pretty straightforward. You're looking at patterns of things, in wider and wider circles, let's say; and you find patterns broken, or patterns made, and that's what you're looking for.
|
