Planning is now well underway for the CWA program in April 2024. It is scheduled for the week of April 8th, with three full days of keynotes, and lively panels, debates, discussions, and performances. Furthermore, we are collaborating with other organizations at CU and the Boulder community to provide additional content in the months and days leading up to the conference.
This year we have three thematic areas driving the planning process: “Global Equity,” “Leadership,” and “The Next 100 Years.” Each of these will be addressed from a diversity of perspectives.
The Next 100 Years
With this theme, CWA will bring thought leaders, innovators, educators, and professionals from around the world to explore the confluence of technological advances and sociocultural imperatives that will shape the next century. We will encourage a dynamic dialogue on the challenges and prospects facing Gen Z and future generations. We will address the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on society, with the opportunities, risks, and ethical questions it presents. Our discussions may span from groundbreaking fields like quantum computing to the new horizons of space and aerospace research and its impacts on health and culture.
Global Equity
The idea for this theme was born from discussions regarding the ideas of “Equity” vs. “Equality. In addition to a historical perspective and addressing topics of “where to from here,” we will address forward-looking concepts such as whether or not developing technologies level the playing field in terms of Global Equity. In addition to specific attention to issues of the Global South, panels developed under this theme would address issues that affect North and South, such as whether the old view is still accurate that the steady advance of democracy will accompany development. Finally, we will include discussions of the importance of systemic change and the associated challenges in this era of social platforms that encourage quick reactions/quick fixes rather than long-term thinking and solutions.
Leadership
The University of Colorado (CU) believes and invests in the leadership potential of all students. Part of that cultivation includes learning from leaders of character who meet the needs of humanity in many different ways. In 2024, CWA will provide students, faculty, and the community the opportunity to engage with and learn from a diverse set of leaders across the political, business, social, academic, athletic, and arts sectors. We believe that everyone can be a leader, and these speakers will provide lessons from their own experiences, examining the characteristics that come together in leadership, the role of failures in successes, what to look for in a team, who to listen to… or ignore, and what is different about the next generation of leaders.
Please plan on joining us in April. In the meantime, you can let us know of interesting and dynamic speakers that you know and to whom you might provide an introduction: Our outreach for speakers relies on contacts and introductions! To nominate a speaker, suggest a CWA topic, and for faculty to request a speaker classroom, visit: https://www.colorado.edu/cwa/get-involved
Happy Birthday, Oak Thorne!
Two weeks ago, we celebrated Program Committee member Oak Thorne’s 95th birthday! Oak is a chair emeritus for the Science and Technology committee for CWA and a mentor to many CWA students. We are grateful for all of Oak’s dedication to making CWA such a wonderful program! Happy 95th Birthday, Oak!
