The University of King’s College presents Automatons! From Ovid to AI, a nine-lecture series examining the history, issues and relationships between humans, robots, and artificial intelligence. The series runs from January 10 to April 4, and features leading scholars, performers and critics from Canada, the US and Britain.
“Drawing from theatre, literature, art, science and philosophy, our 2018 King’s College Lecture Series features leading international authorities exploring our intimate relationships with machines,” says Dr. Gordon McOuat, professor in the King’s History of Science and Technology (HOST) and Contemporary Studies Programs.
Among the featured speakers is leading public intellectual and BBC commentator, Noel Sharkey, Professor of AI and Robotics and Professor of Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, and an opponent of robot warfare. On March 21, Dr. Sharkey will debate Duncan MacIntosh of Dalhousie University on the ethics of autonomous weapons.
“From the myths of Ovid and the automatons of the early modern period to the rise of robots, cyborgs, AI and artificial living things in the modern world, the 2018 King’s College Lecture Series examines the historical, cultural, scientific and philosophical place of automatons in our lives—and our future,” adds McOuat.
All lectures are open to the public and start at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall at King’s College, except for the March 21 and March 28 events, which will take place at Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie Universities respectively. See below for details.
Video recordings of the lectures can be found on the lecture series page.
January 10: Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” – Fritz Lang’s classic 1927 film, Metropolis, with live electroacoustic music, opens the Public Lecture Series. Venue: Alumni Hall
With musical accompaniment by the Upstream Music Association, the screening explores the intersection between electronics and improvisation, automation and real-time inspiration, featuring some of our finest cinematic improvisors: Amy Brandon on guitar and electronics, Steven Naylor on keyboard and electronics, Lukas Pearse on bass and electronics, and Brandon Auger on synthesizer.
January 17: Imagining Automatons
Teresa Heffernan of Saint Mary’s University and Director of the “Social Robots Futures” project, delivers the opening lecture on the past and future of robots. Venue: Alumni Hall
January 25: Ancient Automatons
Courtney Ann Roby, Cornell University, and author of The Written Machine between Alexandria and Rome (2016). Venue: Alumni Hall
February 14: Artificial Intelligence: Successes & Challenges
With Stan Matwin, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Dalhousie University and Dr. Teresa Heffernan of the “Social Robot Futures” at Saint Mary’s University. Venue: Alumni Hall
February 28: Imagined Puppet Life
Dawn Brandes, University of King’s College and Halifax Humanities. Venue: Alumni Hall
March 7: Asian Robots & Orientalism
Simon Kow, University of King’s College. Venue: Alumni Hall
March 21: War in the Age of Intelligent Machines
Renowned computer scientist and commentator Noel Sharkey debates Duncan MacIntosh, Dalhousie University, on the role of autonomous weapons. Venue: Scotiabank Auditorium, Saint Mary’s University
March 28: Frankenstein
A special performance and lecture marking the 200th anniversary of the Mary Shelley classic
With Despina Kakoudaki, American University of Washington, and author of Anatomy of a Robot: Literature, Cinema and the Cultural Work of Artificial People. Venue: Fountain School of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University
April 4: Living Artificially
With King’s alumna and University of Pennsylvania professor, Stephanie Dick. Author of Of Models and Machines
The 2018 Lecture Series is made possible with assistance from the University of King’s College (Contemporary Studies Program, Early Modern Studies Program and History of Science and Technology Program), Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
