News Releases & Announcements
Federal Ministers, students, educators and experts gather to discuss impact of technology on society
OTTAWA, March 19, 2007 — The University of Ottawa is proud to host the first-ever Dialogue on Technology, Society and the Future in partnership with Telus. Led by honourary co-chairs, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women Beverley Oda, the dialogue will help to unlock students' imaginations, expand their horizons, and encourage them to pose compelling questions about technology and its impact on everyday life.
Dr. Ian Kerr, a University of Ottawa professor with a three-way appointment in the faculties of Law, Medicine, and Arts, will open the dialogue with a description of the rapid pace of technological change, followed by a discussion of several emerging technologies and their social implications.
His talk will be followed by a moderated panel and a question-and-answer period. Joining Dr. Kerr are Jennifer Corriero, young innovator and leader, and Craig Kielburger, an accomplished child rights advocate and leadership specialist. Evan Solomon, CBC television broadcaster, journalist and author, will moderate the event.
The event will be broadcast live on the Web at www.media.uOttawa.ca/telus.html.
- WHAT: Dialogue on Technology, Society and the Future
- WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 6:00 p.m.
- WHERE: University of Ottawa, Tabaret Hall, Room 112
550 Cumberland Street, Ottawa
Dr. Ian Kerr
Ian Kerr is the Canada Research Chair in Ethics, Law and Technology at the University of Ottawa. He holds one of the largest ever research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council as well as a number of other public and private grants and partnerships. Blending a broad array of inter-disciplinary expertise with his deep love of rock and roll music, Dr. Kerr has published extensively in academic books and journals, popular newspapers and magazines, websites and blogs, on ethical and legal aspects of numerous issues such as digital copyright, automated electronic commerce, artificial intelligence, cybercrime, nanotechnology, Internet regulation, ISP and intermediary liability, online defamation, bioethics, health law, technology and human rights, and the coming merger of humans and machines. With more than half a dozen awards and citations for teaching excellence, he is one of the most popular professors at the University of Ottawa and is known as one of Canada’s finest law teachers. www.iankerr.ca, www.idtrail.org
Craig Kielburger
Recently named an Officer of the Order of Canada, Craig Kielburger is an accomplished child rights advocate and leadership specialist, an award-winning author and a popular speaker. He is the founder of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, and the co-founder of Leaders Today, the world’s top youth leadership training organization.
www.freethechildren.org/aboutus/craigmarc/craigkielburger.htm
Jennifer Corriero
Jennifer Corriero is a young innovator and leader, bringing tremendous insight into understanding, reaching and motivating youth. In all of her varied experiences, her focus has been on two things: helping youth around the world to realize the potential of technology; and working with companies to show them what they need to do to connect with young people. This passion has made for some amazing successes, including the development of one of the world's most successful youth-oriented not-for-profit organizations - TakingITGlobal, which has over 300,000 users in more than 200 countries and territories, and is providing a platform, a resource and a network for today's global youth. At age 19 she was a senior consultant to Microsoft, and has also done consulting work with Hewlett-Packard, Nike, and McDonald's.
www.takingitglobal.org/
Evan Solomon, CBC Television Broadcaster, Journalist & Author
As provocative in print as he is on the air, Evan Solomon spends his professional life exploring the world of innovation, advances in technology, changing business paradigms, and creative approaches to managing and solving the complex challenges of sustainability in the 21st century. A long-time print and broadcast journalist, Evan Solomon is the co-host of the two weekly news and current affairs shows CBC News: Sunday and CBC News: Sunday Night.
www.cbc.ca/sunday/evan.html
Honourary Co-Chair: Industry Minister Maxime Bernier
Maxime Bernier was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in 2006. Mr. Bernier is a graduate in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa, has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, and has significant experience in the financial sector. He has worked for financial and banking institutions and has provided advice on their behalf on various legislative issues.
Because of his involvement in various professional activities, Mr. Bernier has acquired vast knowledge of business, the economy and legal issues. He was until his election Executive Vice President of the Montreal Economic Institute. He has also served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications for Standard Life of Canada insurance company and Director of Business and International Relations at the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québec.
www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/min/Minister
Honourary Co-Chair: Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women Beverley Oda
Beverley J. Oda was named Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of in February 2006. Before entering federal politics, Ms. Oda spent more than 25 years in public and private broadcasting. Ms. Oda began her broadcasting career at TVOntario in 1973. She moved to commercial broadcasting in 1976. In 1995, she was appointed senior vice-president at CTV. From 1987 to 1993, she served as a commissioner with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). She has also worked as a consultant in the areas of government policies and regulation in broadcasting, multiculturalism, and diversity.
Ms. Oda has served on a number of national and international boards. In 2003, she was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Broadcast Hall of Fame. Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Ms. Oda has served as chair of the Lakeridge Health Hospital Corporation and is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal. Ms. Oda is the first Japanese Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons in 2004.
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pc-ch/min/oda/biograph_e.cfm
