We need to bring together three key concepts:  (1) the brain from the perspective of neuroscience, (2) the future and how the environment is changing thanks to new advances in technology, and (3) the impact of the latter on the former as regards the new landscape of 21^st Century work. Neuroscience is now offering an increasing number of insights into the "plasticity" of the human brain. i.e. we are gradually realising how very sensitive our brain cells circuitry is to every  moment of individual experience for each developing individual.  Given this malleability of the brain to the external environment, it follows that if that environment is changing, the brain might change too.   What possible changes to mindset might screen based activities of 6 hours a day or more make on the mind of subsequent generations?  In particular, we need to explore thinking processes, and notions of identity.

In all aspects of technology, information technology, bio-technology and nano-technology, traditional boundaries of how we regard ourselves, the narrative of our lives and the world around us will be challenged.   The impact of this dramatically different world can be seen with not just the physical environment of new types of computing and offices, but rather also with attitudes to risk, status and creativity.  In conclusion, the workforce will have a very different profile, mandating new types of leadership."

Baroness Greenfield is director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain (the first woman to hold that position) and professor of pharmacology at the University of Oxford, where she leads a multi-disciplinary team investigating neurodegenerative disorders. In addition she is director of the Oxford Centre for the Science of the Mind, exploring the physical basis of consciousness. Her books include ’The Human Brain’ (2000), and "Tomorrow’s People: How 21^st Century technology is changing the way we think and feel" (2003). She has spun off four companies from her research, made a diverse contribution to print and broadcast media, and led a government report on "Women in Science". She has received 28 honorary degrees, an honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (2000), a non-political life peerage (2001) and the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur (2003). In 2006 she was installed as chancellor of Heriot-Watt University and voted ’Honorary Australia of the Year’.

RSVP to Nicola Middleton if you are interested in attending.

Nicola Middleton