Talk: Exponential Technologies and Values – A Tale of Chickens and Eggs – 14 Jul 2020

A talk by Dr. Lennart Brand on Exponential Technologies and Values – A Tale of Chickens and Eggs. Tue, 14 Jul 2020, 18:00 BST

Brief
Are the premises from which we approach the subject of exponential technological development still appropriate, or are we moving into a completely new dimension that also requires new moral concepts? The Liberal Arts are a useful means of doing this – provided that they discuss values not as a starting point but as a possible outcome of the debate. In other words, provided that they facilitate academic debate in an objective and open manner.

About the author
Lennart is Managing Director of the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin. The Institute – which is affiliated with Zeppelin University, a private German university near Lake Constance – is one of Germany’s foremost leadership-research institutions, collaborating with major players in business, politics, and civil society. Before his current position, Lennart held a variety of managerial responsibilities in academia, focusing on technology transfer, entrepreneurship, development, and international strategy. Lennart started his career in the industry before taking up his D.Phil. in Modern Languages at Oxford (St. John’s) in 2004. A few years ago he initiated the OUS Lake Constance chapter which covers a large area across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/lennart-brand-b77b5581

Outreach Officer

Interested? Drop us an email recruitment@oxford10.com

Responsibilities/Duties

  1. Spearhead Oxford10’s outreach activities.
  2. Work with Alumni Office to leverage Oxford10’s position to carry out University outreach strategy.
  3. Define strategy for the Oxford10 Outreach programme and plan for execution of the strategy. (Oxford10 committee members will assist with this task.)
    1. Define outreach strategy statement.
    2. Brief execution plan.
    3. Identify measurable deliverables for the outreach programme.
    4. Timeline defining when the deliverables will complete.
  4. Work with organisations like IntoUniversity to encourage and help students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for admissions at Oxford University.

Expected Effort

2 hours a week approximately.

Shared Responsibilities of All Committee Members
Although we outline in this document the obligations for being in positions on the Executive Committee, from time to time the President and other members on this Committee may require assistance with their duties. Being on the Oxford10 Committee is a team effort. Therefore, its members are expected to help each other and to occasionally pick up tasks or responsibilities beyond their remit. Examples of such duties include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Composing/posting of messages on various communication channels.
  2. Helping out event organisers with their events on the night (along with assistance on other aspects of event organisation).

Conformity to Oxford Alumni Network Guidelines
Along with the duties of their particular role, a member of the Oxford10 Executive Committee is expected to observe any guidelines from the wider Oxford Alumni Network that could be relevant to them (these are listed under their respective role descriptions). That member should inform and provide guidance for resolution if necessary, if Oxford10 doesn’t meet any of these guidelines.

Interested? Drop us an email recruitment@oxford10.com

Exponential Technologies and Values – A Tale of Chickens and Eggs – Talk by Dr. Lennart Brand

On Tuesday 14th July, Oxford10 was joined by Dr. Lennart Brand (D.Phil., St. John’s College, 2004), Managing Director of the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin, for a live virtual talk on the subject of “Exponential Technologies and Values – A Tale of Chickens and Eggs”. Dr. Brand’s talk pivoted upon the notion that as we move into an era of exponential technological development, including the continued progression of AI, ethical standards that were once considered inviolable may no longer be fit for purpose. By maintaining an openness to and awareness of a newly emerging ethical paradigm, we may be in a better position to respond to the certain influx of changes ahead. In just 30 minutes Dr. Brand’s discussion touched on subjects ranging from self-driving cars to eugenics, and on writers as diverse as 18th century historian Oswald Spengler and the contemporary science fiction author Leif Randt.

Dr. Brand’s talk was followed by a stimulating Q&A session in which members explored further ways the discussion impinged on ethical issues in society. We’d like to thank Dr. Brand for sharing his valuable time with us, and for providing all of us with a thought-provoking thesis, inspiring many more questions for consideration.

Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/lennart-brand-b77b5581

Using Maths to Clean-up our Oceans – a talk by Dr. Tom Crawford – 4th August 2020

Where does river water go when it enters the ocean? Rivers are the major source of pollution in the oceans and if we are to clean them up, we first need to know where the majority of the pollution is concentrated. By creating a mathematical model for river outflows – verified by laboratory experiments and fieldwork -– the goal is to be able to predict which areas are most susceptible to pollution from rivers and thus coordinate clean-up operations as effectively as possible.

Get your tickets here

Oxford Entrepreneurs Network – UK Chapter Launch

Our sister alumni society Oxford Entrepreneurs Network is launching its UK Chapter on Monday 22nd June 2020 at 5pm BST.

Agenda includes:

  • Introduction to OEN and OEUK from Paula Skokowski
  • VC Insights: “What to look for in an Investor” Phoebe Arkell will be discussing fundraising and pitching during COVID-19 as well as what startups should look for when bringing in a new investor.
  • Startup Pitch by Aran Bates EO and Co-Founder of Hydrologiq

The Speakers
Paula Skokowski is the Chief Marketing Officer of Incognia and a Manager at the Oxford Angel Fund. She is on the Executive Board of the Oxford Entrepreneurs Network.
James Khan is a Director & Global Architecture Lead of UBS Investment Bank Research. He is the President of Oxford10 and part of the Committee of the OEUK Chapter.
Phoebe Arkell is a Principal at Rooks Nest Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in London. She has previously worked in innovation, consultancy, and operations.
Aran Bates is CEO and Co-Founder of Hydrologiq, a company helping to provide off-grid electricity powered by hydrogen. He previously founded his own digital start-up, launched new ventures inside of existing multinational businesses, and advised some of the world’s largest corporates on Innovation Excellence.

Get your free tickets