What we don’t understand often looks dangerous, and the barriers of our own anxieties are hard to get over. The incomprehensible power of new and complex technologies see us pull back in fear. What seem like the freakish sexual and social mores of others generate moral panic. Both of these reactions stop us from thinking – so maybe if we want to be able to deal with change, we need to dive into what seems dangerous, from algorithms and quantum computing to sexy selfies.

Chaired by Rob Brooks, UNSW Professor of Evolution, Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre.

This talk is part of the UNSW Grand Challenge program, and was recorded live on stage at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2018.

What we don’t understand often looks dangerous, and the barriers of our own anxieties are hard to get over. The incomprehensible power of new and complex technologies see us pull back in fear. What seem like the freakish sexual and social mores of others generate moral panic. Both of these reactions stop us from thinking – so maybe if we want to be able to deal with change, we need to dive into what seems dangerous, from algorithms and quantum computing to sexy selfies. Chaired by Rob Brooks, UNSW Professor of Evolution, Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre. This talk is part of the UNSW Grand Challenge program, and was recorded live on stage at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2018.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Idea…

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What we don’t understand often looks dangerous, a…

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