How will AI transform media and healthcare? What kinds of vehicles will we drive in 20 years? How will supercomputers shape our future?
Some of Queen’s top researchers are hard at work on questions like these, and over the next four months they will be answering them at a new event series for the Queen’s community that promises to be unlike anything the university has hosted before.
Dubbed the Queen’s Micro Summits, the four events are happening in Palo Alto, Calif. (Feb. 19-20), Toronto (March 25-26), Vancouver (Apr. 23-24), and Calgary (May 28-29).
This is the first time the Queen’s Office of Advancement will host a two-night event series. Organizers say each city’s Micro Summit has been thoughtfully curated to give guests an immersive experience where the activities will complement each other and lead into the next evening’s programming.
The first night of each summit will feature TED Talk-style keynotes from leading Queen’s researchers giving the audience a glimpse into their groundbreaking work.
Night two goes deeper with panel discussions, networking opportunities, and chances to connect with researchers, industry experts, and students grappling with what’s next for humanity.
All of it happens within a variety of immersive museum and gallery spaces, with food and drink included.
“This is going to be a really unique way to bring audiences right into some of the most innovative research happening at Queen’s,” says Kevin Deluzio, Dean of Smith Engineering. “From climate change to AI, our faculty, students, and alumni are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the planet. Each of these Micro Summit events will be a fascinating glimpse into what our future will look like. I’ll be there in Palo Alto and am looking forward to being part of this.”
First up is a journey into the world of supercomputing in the birthplace of Silicon Valley – Palo Alto, Calif. Inside the city’s Computer History Museum, supercomputing trailblazers like Queen’s Assistant Professor Ryan Grant will uncover how this powerful technology is leading to new breakthroughs in drug discovery, climate prediction, and beyond.
Then it’s on to Toronto and the multi-sensory art museum Arcadia Earth, where the theme will be the future of media. How will we consume art and journalism in a decade? How will AI impact the creation of media? Queen’s Associate Professor of Law Samuel Dahan and others will be there with answers.
The third stop is The Kent Vancouver and an exploration of what’s to come in healthcare. Experts say machine learning and data analytics are poised to revolutionize almost every facet of the doctor-patient experience. Guests will learn what that could mean from Queen’s emergency medicine professor Kerstin de Wit and leading analytics authority from Smith School of Business, Vedat Verter.
The final stop is Calgary’s Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, where the theme will be how sustainability – from the cars we drive to the food we eat – will evolve in the years ahead.
For more information on each Micro Summit event, including when and how to register, visit the event page.
