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 The CIS Big Ideas Forum
 

CIS has often been instrumental in gathering key intellectuals, policymakers and authors together in Australia. Such occasions are an ideal opportunity to present to the public a discussion on a topic of importance for our society, and the international community.

The CIS Big Ideas Forums began in 2002 with the idea of presenting to the public a discussion on a specific topic, led by the foremost thinkers. It is an opportunity for the Australian public not only to listen to leading international experts and prominent authors, but also ask questions and participate in the discussion.


Big Ideas Forum 2009

Enemies of Progress?

Monday, 10 August 2009

The CIS is once again pleased to host the annual Big Ideas Forum, featuring a panel of experts discussing issues of key importance to society both domestically and globally. This year’s panel will feature, Dr Austin Williams, Director of the London-based Future Cities Project, and author of Enemies of Progress: The Dangers of Sustainability, and Dr Patrick Michaels, US climatologist, environmental science professor, and co-author of Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don’t Want You to Know, with additional speakers to be announced.

Where humanity once solved the world’s problems, we are now viewed as the source. We no longer take pride in dynamic progress to benefit mankind; we bemoan the so-called carbon footprint that this progress will leave. Experimentation and entrepreneurship are being replaced by conformity and rules, and we are becoming a panicky, sensationalist and risk-averse society. Doom and disaster merchants, feeding off genuine crises such as the current financial crash, stymie big ideas and development and encourage government intervention and restrictions.
From the optimism and grand thinking of the Victorians to the current day pessimism, what has happened to the idea of progress?



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Venue:
Macquarie Auditorium, Level 3, No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney

Time:  
5:45pm for a 6:00pm start

Cost:   
Members - $22.00 inc. GST

Non-Members - $27.50 inc. GST

Students, Pensioners and Concessions - $11.00 inc. GST

Bookings:
To book online please visit click here or contact CIS Events Assistant, Alanna Elliott, at aelliott@cis.org.au or on
(02) 9438 4377.

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