Mark Stevenson - An Optimist’s Tour of the Future
Last updated 10/12/2011 9:01:16 AM
Mark Stevenson - An Optimists Tour of the Future
Critical Thinking is My Aeroplane
Is the future of humanity in "safe" hands? The inspiring journey of Mark Stevenson (taking in Harvard, MIT and cabinet meetings under the sea) catalogued in his recent book An Optimist's Tour of the Future argues it might be... Before we get to that though, Mark's own story is worth exploring...
Mark jumped ship from the meanderings of his 20's; simultaneous careers in IT and making music, to a crusade to, as he puts, "put optimism of ambition and rationalism of approach into the centre of culture in the same way Beyonce and football are", no small undertaking. Speaking with him you really get the feeling that this is something that anyone could do, with an open mind and the will to put their energy and intellect to task. He certainly leaves you feeling more confident about the direction of the human race and inspired by the choices offered to us by the march of history.
Mark wanted to write a ‘wide-ranging book' that would appeal to everyone, in a Bill Bryson vein, and his comedy background certainly makes the read a rollicking one, with the a voice that would appeal to pretty much everyone, not just people who get excited about genomes, nano-technology and Moore's Law.
Mark Stevenson has been called various things including ‘Serendipity Engineer', ‘Ideas Broker', ‘Roving Learner', ‘Futurologist', ‘Anti-cynic' to name but a few, but ‘Cultural Engineer' is perhaps the best way to describe his work and ambitions.
Mark is the founder of the League of Pragmatic Optimists (‘a modern age version of coffee house of the enlightenment'), co-founder of both Flow Associates (which provides "consultancy, products and design for a learning planet") and science communications agency ReAgency, as well as a consultant to a host of organisations, from the boards of multi-national corporations to individual schools, helping them play their part in making the world a better place.
Mark says that nothing makes him happier than getting an email from a teenager saying that because of him they now want to become a scientist.
An Optimist's Tour of the Future opens up the worlds of Biotech, Nanotech and Infotech to all, and gives you a real insight into the individuals that are setting the pace. The reassuring thing present in all of them was the fact that they are driven by a need to help humanity. Whether that is to combat climate change, increase life expectancy or answer the profound questions that have always haunted us. What is life? What is consciousness? It is important to stress that Mark doesn't blindly tell the positive side of the techno future, bringing a healthy dose of realism to the proceedings, and it is this that makes the book such a tour de force.
The book is also an attempt to provide another ‘way in' to the world of science for the general public. Mark joins a growing number of rational thinking ‘personalities' (not to say other scientists don't have personalities) like Brian Cox, Ben Goldacre, Derren Brown and Stephen Fry. Mark himself has just ‘performed' at the festivals Secret Garden Party, Wilderness and Green Man. It prompted me to ask Mark if ‘brand science' is becoming cooler?
‘Yes' is the one word answer, but he goes on to explain; people are starting to ask more fundamental questions about how we tackle the failure of our institutions to deal with global issues such as poverty, global warming and sharing information. They are turning to people that have the answers; namely scientists and engineers. the fantastic thing about the book is that you learn that we do have the answers, and you wonder what it will take politically to bring these technologies into mainstream.
Mark feels that there is no point waiting for government alone. In fact he is bringing new ways of thinking to big business and investors, straight to where the money is and where there is less bureaucracy and fear of change. Right now he's working on getting funding into techniques that turn carbon dioxide straight into fuel, dealing a double blow climate change and the energy crisis; just one of dozens of applications of new technologies that the book covers. Big business seems to be responding as well. One example: a large car manufacturer is meeting with Mark to discuss what they can do, given their infrastructure, that can be a force for change – including building a ‘carbon neutral petrol station'.
It's important to stress the global reach of what Mark is doing; over the course of the next few weeks he is off to Germany, several US states, Austria and Spain, to name but a few. It seems that his energy for this undertaking is insatiable, and this may be down, amongst other things, to the similar level of focus of the people he meets. All seem to love what they are doing and understand why they are doing it. Not only are they making a difference, but they are being creative, they are taking steps into the unknown, realizing their ambitions and allowing themselves to be optimistic. Sure there will be set backs, there will be tricky moments, there will be seemingly gargantuan obstacles, but this has been tune throughout human history. The 21st century has the potential to be astounding in terms of what we will understand about ourselves and the scientific breakthroughs that are possible within our lifetimes. Sure, we may not be able to travel in time, but we could live long enough to see a great deal more of it. It is important to question, important to dream and important to share ideas - and that is why it is important to read An Optimists Tour of the Future. It will open your mind, and make you laugh while you're doing it.
An Optimist's Tour of the Future is available now from Profile Books (UK) and Penguins Avery (US).
www.anoptimiststourofthefuture.com