The Next Species? Will we get to choose?   Dr Michael Ashley and Professor Hans Coster, University of New South Wales Wednesday February 23rd 2000, 7:00-9:00pm Harlequin Inn, Harris Street, Pyrmont, Sydney Hosted by a new presenter, Alf Conlon Science in the Pub returns for the year 2000 with a new presenter, Alf Conlon, familiar to many of you as the star of  SciPub VII .  Our theme to start the year is the future of the human species.  What is going to come after us?  In particular, are we going to control our evolution?   We have reached the stage in our development where it is possible to control our genetic evolution.  Are we going to use this knowledge to determine our future evolution?  Or is computer intelligence going to get there first, and take over from the human species?   We have two speakers from the  School of Physics of the University of New South Wales, Hans Coster and Michael Ashley, who will debate this point. To introduce you to them: Michael Ashley   Michael Ashley is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of New South Wales. His undergraduate work was at the Australian National University, he then moved to Caltech to begin a PhD, but found life in Pasadena somewhat alien, so converted to a Masters and returned to Australia to complete a PhD at Mt Stromlo Observatory. A career in astronomical research has since taken Michael to some of the most beautiful places on earth, most recently the South Pole. As a side-effect of Michael's research work he became heavily involved in writing computer software for controlling astronomical instruments including the ground-support software for an experiment on the space shuttle and robotic telescopes in Australia and Antarctica.  He teaches courses on how computers work at the chip level, and lectures on the future of artificial intelligence and the possible ramifications for biological lifeforms such as ourselves. When asked whether computers will ever think for themselves, Michael responds ``In 20 years time we will be amused that anyone ever questioned this.  In 40 years the computers will be asking ``do biological organisms really think?!''''. Michael's poem (he wrote the first line, his laptop computer wrote the rest): I think therefore I compute crystalline silence of our dust, and noise, with random intent I know of silver splendour and wondrous snow of love and stainless majesty. Upon her lips And at first The joy or by The joy and I, And for two? (for the poem-writing software, see www.kurzweiltech.com and click on Ray Kurzweil's Cybernetic Poet)   Hans Coster   Click for full image. Hans Coster is a biophysicist.  He has been involved in research on the  electrical properties of cell membranes, ion transport mechanisms and the electro-mechanics of cells in intense electric fields.  He has also had a long time interest in the statistical mechanics of self assembly of biological structures and the non-equilibrium thermodynamics of life processes, including evolutionary processes.  Hans is a graduate of the University of Sydney where he completed both his BSc and PhD.  He joined the School of Physics, University of New South Wales, as a Senior Tutor and was subsequently awarded a personal chair in Physics and later became the foundation chairperson of the Department of Biophysics.  Hans has had a long interest in human evolution, past and future. He is currently involved in a project to create hybrid human cells, using intense radio frequency fields, which can be used in cell culture for the production of therapeutic proteins. Hans wants to consider the question of the "The Next Species" in the context of the following quote from J. Huxley:  "Man's most sacred duty  is to promote the maximum fulfilment of the evolutionary processes in his earth".  He would also like to ponder over this figure he has produced for the occasion:   Concerning the question of choosing the Next Species it may be apt to quote  Lewis Carol from Alice in Wonderland: "Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?" asked Alice "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to." said the Cat "I don't much care where." said Alice "Then it doesn't much matter which way you go." said the Cat "So long as I get somewhere." Alice added as an explanation "Oh you're sure to do that" said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough." Here is Hans'  poetic offering: Molecules and self assembly     Order from all this will crawl. Genes code proteins and their function     Lipids into membranes fall. Dissipative structures drive the throughput     energy inflation cannot stall. Relentless bio-evolution?     Well ...entropy- governs all.   Or as Milton put it  in Paradise Lost (~1640): "Hee rules a moment: Chaos Umpire sits And by decision more embroiles the fray By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter Chance governs all."   'Science in the Pub' (TM) is an initiative of the Australian Science Communicators (NSW) and supported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is normally staged from 7.00-9.00 pm on the last Wednesday of even months (Feb - Oct) at the Harlequin Inn (formerly known as the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel), 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont, 2009. (Telephone (02) 9660 8146. UBD Map ref pg235 P10.) Dinner is available from the Gong Thai restaurant attached to the pub. Parking is difficult - best at the Casino ($10, 6pm to midnight). Door entry is $5. For further information on 'Science in the Pub' please contact Robyn Stutchbury on rstutch@ozemail.com.au of Peripatus Productions Pty Limited, 1 Carisbrook Street, Lane Cove 2066, Tel: 02 9427 6747, Fax: 02 9418 9605 Future Science in the Pub sessions (see the website for full details): Wednesday April 26th with Clio Cresswell from the School of Mathematics of the University of New South Wales.  The topic is "What use is maths?" and we will discuss whether mathematics is the Queen of the Sciences, or simply a tool of the trade.
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.