Economist and science blogger headline University of Richmond Sharp Speaker Series; topics focus on future in 50 years

The 2016-17 Sharp Viewpoint Speakers program, an annual University of Richmond series that explores global topics through a variety of perspectives, will feature an economist and science blogger. The student-selected topic is “Envisioning the future, 50 years from now.” The series is free and open to the Richmond community. 

Events include:
Feb. 9, 7 p.m.: “Reading the Tea Leaves: Predicting the Future in 50 Years”
Jonathan Wight, UR professor of economics and international studies
Robins School of Business, Ukrop Auditorium
Wight will explore the failures and successes in economic predictions. He will tackle questions such as: What do past predictions tell us about future predictions and will the U.S. economy be eclipsed by China?  

April 3, 7 p.m.: “The Future is for Everyone”
Rose Eveleth, producer and host of “Flash Forward,” a podcast about future scenarios
Robins School of Business, Ukrop Auditorium
Eveleth, a journalist who covers how humans tangle with science and technology, will explore how we build futures that include everyone. For example, do kitchens of the future still imagine women staying home and doing the cooking?

The Richard L. Sharp Viewpoint Speakers Series is part of the Richmond Scholars Program and was established in 2011 in honor of Richard L. Sharp, a nationally recognized entrepreneur, to present competing views on topics crucial to the nation and global society.

Past speakers have included a Pulitzer-Prize winning artist and illustrator, University of Richmond’s president and the National Endowment for the Arts’ chairman, among other distinguished guests.