DAVID BRIN's public speaking & consulting appearances

David Brin's best-selling novels include The Postman (filmed in 1997) plus explorations of our near-future in Earth and Existence. His award-winning novels and short stories explore vividly speculative ideas through a hard-science lens. His nonfiction book, The Transparent Society, won the American Library Association's Freedom of Speech Award for exploring 21st Century concerns about security, secrecy, accountability and privacy.


This page contains a list of more than 300 of David Brin's past speeches, appearances, conferences and meetings.

public appearances

DAVID BRIN's 2015 appearances

2015 appearances

  • Navigator Awards Dinner: recipients Rep. Mac Thornberry, David Brin & Alan Shaffer, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Washington DC (10/2015)
  • The Future of Politics conference for Better Brains Institute & Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technology (10/2015)
  • "21st Century Foreign Policy" Bard Center Seminar in New York City (10/2015)
  • "Privacy: Why Does It Matter?" Conference at the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College (10/2015)
  • "Human Augmentation" Innovation Outreach Program, Microsoft sponsored, Amsterdam (10/2015)
  • "The future of Augmented & Virtual Reality," SEA-VR2015 Seattle (10/2015)
  • "The World Village" UCSD Virtual Reality conference Keynote (9/2015)
  • "The Future Seen Through the Eyes of Science Fiction" Salesforce.com Dreamforce Event, San Francisco (9/2015)
  • "Implications of the Internet of Things" Cloudflare Inc. corporate summit in San Francisco (9/2015)
  • "Machine Learning" corporate conference call, Intellum Corp (8/2015)
  • "The Physics of Free Will" with astronomers Brian Keating & Andrew Friedman, UCSD (8/2015)
  • "Augmented Reality's Hidden Problems and Promise" AWE Augmented World Expo, Santa Clara, CA (6/2015)
  • "The Digital Self: Empowered by Light," Brave New World Conference, Porto, Portugal (6/2015)
  • "San Diego's Bright Promise" San Diego Foundation, Joan Kroc Center USD (5/2015)
  • "The Future of Humanity" Skeptic Society at Caltech (5/2015)
  • "The murky road ahead: from an Internet of Things to human augmentation and AI... Looking beyond the five year ROI horizon" COFES: Congress On the Future of Engineering Software, Scottsdale AZ (4/2015)
  • Conference on World Affairs Boulder, CO (4/2015)
  • Workshop on Light Field Imaging, Stanford CA (2/2015)
  • "Is It Time To Start Transmitting to the Cosmos?" AAAS Annual Meeting, San Jose, CA (2/2015)
  • "Asteroids: protection from and mining of" B612 Foundation, San Jose CA (2/2015)
  • "Should Earth Civilization Broadcast its Presence?" American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2/2015)
  • "Does life exist in the universe beyond Earth?" American Assoc. Physics Teachers (1/2015)
  • Meeting and review: Board of Advisors, NASA Innovative & Advanced Concepts group, Cocoa Beach FL (1/2015)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2014 appearances

    2014 appearances

  • "What stimulates innovative companies?" with Roger Bingham & Erik Viirre, MIT Enterprise Forum (11/2014)
  • "Medical Breakthroughs on the Horizon" Health IT and Quality Exchange, San Diego (11/2014)
  • Teradyne Inc. Technical Conference 2014 Keynote (10/2014)
  • Cornell Tech, NYCity Campus, lecture on creativity for students (10/2014)
  • "Science Fiction as an Inspiration for NASA" New York Comicon (10/2014)
  • "Dangerous Impudence of Speculative Fiction" University of Kansas, Lawrence (10/2014)
  • "Neutralizing Nightmares: How we prevent dark tomorrows... by imagining them" Newman University, Witchita (10/2014)
  • "The future of organized crime" Institute for the Future, Palo Alto CA (10/2014)
  • "Strange Things" a radio call-in marathon on Coast-to-Coast (9/2014)
  • "Games that Teach" Cosmic Con (by Skype) (9/2014)
  • "Do we live in a multiverse?" with Brian Keating and Andrew Friedman, UCSD (7/2014)
  • "Will Technology Liberate Us or Enslave Us?" and "Delicious dystopias" FreedomFest, Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas (7/2014)
  • "Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature" Comicon San Diego (7/2014)
  • "Humanity as the positive sum of many parts" Human Computation Roadmap Conference, Washington DC (remote) (6/2014)
  • "Potential catastrophes — in context" Global Catastrophic Risks, Berkeley, CA (remote) (6/2014)
  • "Big Data: Where Will We Be in 40 Years?" Uptime Institute Symposium, Santa Clara (5/2014)
  • "Human Diversity Will Explode" Smithsonian Conference THE FUTURE IS HERE! Washington, DC (5/2014)
  • "The Future of War" Symposium Atlantic Council, Washington, DC (5/2014)
  • "Surveillance, sousveillance & freedom" The Internet Society, Washington, DC (5/2014)
  • "Pitfalls and beneficial businesses in the future" the MITRE Corp., Washington, DC (5/2014)
  • "Business & Cultural Impacts of Cyber Surveillance" 2nd Cyber Surveillance Conference at Santa Clara University (5/2014)
  • "Indignation: the most destructive addiction!" TEDx UCSD (5/2014)
  • "Humanity's future in space" Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSD, San Diego CA (3/2014)
  • "Which Dystopian Future Is Most Likely To Come To Pass?" Intl. Assoc of Privacy Professionals, Washington DC (3/2014)
  • "Methods for scenario building re global trends" The Atlantic Council, Washington DC (3/2014)
  • "Can fiction promote or challenge alternate futures?" Google HQ (2/2014)
  • "Tomorrow is coming fast!" Silicon Valley Future Society, SAP Labs (2/2014)
  • "Problems in online communications" Facebook HQ (2/2014)
  • NASA-NIAC Symposium, Palo Alto CA (2/2014)
  • "Space Technology Innovation: A new system for the Interplanetary Internet" Google HQ (1/2014)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2013 appearances

    2013 appearances

  • "What Do We Owe Tomorrow?" Personhood Beyond the Human Conference, Yale University, New Haven, CT (12/2013)
  • "What's Next?" re:THINK, TEDx San Diego, Calit2/UCSD (12/2013)
  • "How will future generations govern themselves?" Otherlands Books, Berlin, Germany (11/2013)
  • "Digital Agenda for Europe" ICT 2013, Vilnius, Lithuania (11/2013)
  • Eugene Shoemaker Memorial Lecture at Arizona State University (ASU) (10/2013)
  • Mensa Foundation's Colloquium 2013 — Frontiers of Science Fiction and Science, Ft. Worth, Tx (7/2013)
  • Public talk at the Ft. Worth Science Center/Museum (7/2013)
  • "Science Fiction/Fantasy counterfactual?" American Library Association, Chicago (6/2013)
  • ISTAS13, the IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (by Skype) on transparency and sousveillance (6/2013)
  • "Digitizing the Planet" FiRe Future in Review Conference (5/2013)
  • "Transhumanism and Space Exploration", ISDC National Space Society Conference, La Jolla (5/2013)
  • Grand Opening, Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination, UCSD (5/2013)
  • San Diego Writers/Editors Guild (4/2013)
  • ST Global Consortium, AAAS Headquarters, Washington DC. (4/2013)
  • Eaton Literary SF Conference, Riverside (4/2013)
  • Remembering Ray Bradbury, Cygnet Theater, San Diego (4/2013)
  • Tucson Festival of Books, U. of Az (3/2013)
  • NASA NIAC Spring Symposium, Chicago (3/2013)
  • Southern California Writer's Conference (1/2013)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2012 appearances

    2012 appearances

  • Dedication of Ray Bradbury Square, LA (12/2012)
  • Not-the-end-of-the-world cruise, Caribbean/Yucatan (12/2012)
  • Keynote, Qualcomm Open Source Summit (11/2012)
  • Keynote, Engineers for a Sustainable World (10/2012)
  • "Merging Science & Art" keynote dedication of UCSD's new Structural Engineering Building (9/2012)
  • "Images of the Future" Keynote dedication of exhibition at CSU Northridge (9/2012)
  • "The Future of Artificial Intelligence" KPCC Crawford Forum, Pasadena (8/2012)
  • "The Future of Artificial Intelligence" KPCC Crawford Forum, Pasadena (8/2012)
  • "Curiosity, Mars and Beyond" Planet-Fest, Pasadena (7/2012)
  • "Broad/Deep/Far: Humanity's Prospects to Evolve?" Singularity University (remote) (7/2012)
  • "Transforming Human-Computer Interfaces" Microsoft, Seattle (7/2012)
  • "Harnessing Competition to Solving the Riddle of Survival and Progress" UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge keynote (6/2012)
  • "How Drones Will Affect & Change Us" for Drones at Home conference, UCSD (5/2012)
  • "Nutrient Info-tech, Can Citizens Use it to Live Better?" Future in Review conference, Laguna (5/2012)
  • US Air Force Space & Cyberspace Visionary Workshop, Colorado Springs (4/2012)
  • "The Future of Governance" Berggruen Institute, Palo Alto (3/2012)
  • NASA NIAC new technologies conference, Pasadena (3/2012)
  • "Sipping from a fire hose: the future of human information processing and security" Keynote: Network/Distributed System Security Symposium, San Diego (2/2012)
  • "The Politics of Space" CDPIC conference, San Diego (2/2012)
  • "Copyright 2020 & the Future of Online IP" the Internet Society/Georgetown U. (2/2012)
  • DEBATE: Is Privacy Obsolete in the Digital World? Assoc. of American Publishers, Washington, DC (2/2012)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2011 appearances

    2011 appearances

  • "The World of 2061: Re-inventing Civilization" TedX Brussells (11/2011)
  • "The Art of Reinventing Ourselves" TedX Intuit, San Diego (11/2011)
  • "Making Gods: Will That Bother Anyone?" Singularity Summit New York (10/2011)
  • "Future of Medicine" Society Of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Los Angeles (9/2011)
  • Paypal Executive conference, keynote speech (6/2011)
  • Qualcomm's Innovation Network (QUIN) "Venture Fest" consultation (6/2011)
  • "Problem Solving in the New Millennium" Maker Faire, San Mateo (5/2011)
  • Meeting/consultation NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program (5/2011)
  • "Our Destiny in Space and Life in the Cosmos" CSU San Marcos (4/2011)
  • "Engineering Education" Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads, Phoenix (3/2011)
  • "Making Everything in Your Home" IFTF workshop on open fabrication, San Jose (3/2011)
  • National Conference of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads keynote, Phoenix AZ (03/2011)
  • Workshop on the future of open fabrication, Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, CA (03/2011)
  • "The Long Form: Novels & Movies" Anime-Caonji, San Diego (03/2011)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2010 appearances

    2010 appearances

  • "The Future of Urban Life" San Diego Rotary Club (11/2010)
  • "Interstellar Communications: Technology and Policy" Royal Society conference, Kavli Center (UK) (10/2010)
  • "Originality in the Film District 9" ART-PWR San Diego (9/2010)
  • "Does the Galaxy Need Humanity?" TEDx Del Mar (6/2010)
  • Parallel Computing Workshop, keynote, UCSD (5/2010)
  • "Out of the Eye of the Storm" keynote for Casey Research Investment Conference (5/2010)
  • "CTO Challenge on Alternate Energy" & "The Physics of Tomorrow," Future in Review (FiRe) Conference, Palos Verdes, CA (5/2010)
  • Situational Awareness Workshop, keynote, UCSD (5/2010)
  • Larry King Show (with Michio Kaku & Dan Aykroyd) re "Are aliens a threat?" (4/2010)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2009 appearances

    2009 appearances

  • "Hollywood & Pop Culture: Myths that help us and cliches that don't" IEET Conference Irvine, CA (12/2009)
  • "Government web sites: service, accountability and security." NIC 2009 keynote, Denver (11/2009)
  • "Idea-Driven Innovation" Da Vinci Colorado Inventors' Showcase (11/2009)
  • "Perspectives on Education & the Future" Kaplan University (keynote) 10/2009
  • "Accountability, Attribution and Anonymity: Nat/Sec Implications" keynote speaker (unnamed Agency) Arlington VA (9/2009)
  • "Ethics and Science," University of San Diego (USD) (7/2009)
  • "Why Johnny Can't Code — missing skills we'll need tomorrow" USENIX Conf. (6/2009)
  • "Ethics and the Engineering Profession" Commencement, Jacobs School, UCSD (6/2009)
  • Wine n' Writers Author event, San Diego (5/2009)
  • "Solving the Water Crisis" an ArchiTechs Challenge, Future in Review (FiRe) Conf. Coronado (5/2009)
  • "Mixed Reality in Tomorrow's Cities" Associated Cities-Geodomain Expo, San Diego (04/2009)
  • "Visualizing new types of threats" (for an unnamed agency) Washington DC (04/2009)
  • "How the US might regain its faith in the future" Info Tech And Innovation Foundation, Washington DC (04/2009)
  • "Virtual Reality and other New Addictions" National Insitute on Drug Abuse, Washington DC (04/2009)
  • Jacobs School of Engineering Graduate Dinner (03/2009)
  • Speculative threats appraisal (presented by remote) CIA (01/2009)
    • DAVID BRIN's 2008 appearances

    2008 appearances

  • "Innovating in Uncertain Times" San Diego Inventors' Forum (11/2008)
  • MIT Media Lab Annual Sponsors' Summit keynote (10/2008)
  • "Digital Discourse" IBM Cambridge (10/2008)
  • "21st Century Collaboration & Problem Solving" IBM company-wide speech (7/2008)
  • "Speculative Fiction: Keeping it Realistic and Relevant" Clarion Writers' Conference (7/2008)
  • "The Transparent Society: Ten Years After" Computers, Freedom & Privacy (CFP), Yale (by remote hookup) (5/2008)
  • Eaton Conference on Science Fiction as Literature, UC Riverside (5/2008)
  • Future in Review (FiRe) Conference on Technology & Business, Hotel del Coronado (5/2008)
  • Research Affiliates Advisory Panel on Economic & Investment Modeling, Laguna Beach (5/2008)
  • "Yuri's Night and the Future of the Future" Extropia (Second Life) event (4/2008)
  • "Literary Orange" morning keynote, Garden Grove Hyatt Regency (4/2008)
  • "MySpace or Your Space? Teens, privacy and freedom of expression." RHFleet Center, San Diego (2/2008)
  • International Symposium on AI, Robotics and Automation in Space, JPL/Los Angeles (2/2008)
  • Wealth Owners' Conclave Concerning Transparency and Privacy. Vaduz, Liechtenstein (1/2008)
  • Department of Homeland Security: Stake-holders' Conference, Los Angeles (1/2008)

    • Continue reading public appearances for the years 2022-2020, 2019-2016, and 2007-1997.

    a brief intro to science fiction author DAVID BRIN

    To learn more, visit his books page, or see his "about me" page or detailed biography.

    DAVID BRIN author

    novels

    David Brin's science fiction novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages. They range from bold and prophetic explorations of our near-future to Brin's Uplift series, envisioning galactic issues of sapience and destiny (and star-faring dolphins!). Learn More

    shorter fiction

    Short stories and novellas have different rhythms and artistic flavor, and Brin's short stories and novellas, several of which earned Hugo and other awards, exploit that difference to explore a wider range of real and vividly speculative ideas. Many have been selected for anthologies and reprints, and most have been published in anthology form. Learn More

    Contrary Brin blog

    Since 2004, David Brin has maintained a blog about science, technology, science fiction, books, and the future — themes his science fiction and nonfiction writings continue to explore. Learn More

    social media influencer

    Who could've predicted that social media — indeed, all of our online society — would play such an important role in the 21st Century — restoring the voices of advisors and influencers! Lively and intelligent comments spill over onto Brin's social media pages. Learn More

    DAVID BRIN scientist

    scientist

    David Brin's Ph.D in Physics from the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. Every science show that depicts a comet now portrays the model developed in Brin's PhD research. Learn More

    transparency expert

    Brin's non-fiction book, The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy?, continues to receive acclaim for its accuracy in predicting 21st Century concerns about online security, secrecy, accountability and privacy. Learn More

    speaker & consultant

    Brin speaks plausibly and entertainingly about trends in technology and society to audiences willing to confront the challenges that our rambunctious civilization will face in the decades ahead. He also talks about the field of science fiction, especially in relation to his own novels and stories. To date he has presented at more than 300 meetings, conferences, corporate retreats and other gatherings. Learn More

    future/tech advisor

    Brin advises corporations and governmental and private defense- and security-related agencies about information-age issues, scientific trends, future social and political trends, and education. Urban Developer Magazine named him one of four World's Best Futurists, and he was appraised as "#1 influencer" in Onalytica's Top 100 report of Artificial Intelligence influencers, brands & publications. Past consultations include Google, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and many others. Learn More

    Contacting BRIN

    All the Ways in the World to Reach David Brin

    an ornery, contrary BLOG, and other insightful wormholes!

    Do not enter if you want a standard "Party" line! Contrary Brin's incendiary posts on science, sci-fi and politics and its engaged, opinionated community poke at too-rigid orthodoxies, proposing ideas and topics that fascinate — and infuriate. See for yourself, and if you like — subscribe for more.

    Questions? Concerns? Email DAVID BRIN at mail@davidbrin.com

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    pages about DAVID BRIN

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    • pages about BRIN's science fiction

  • Brin's novels and books
  • Brin's short stories and novellas
  • all about Brin's uplift universe
  • a selection of book reviews
  • Brin's special-order books for sale
  • Brin's advice for new writers
  • Brin reviews sci fi films — including The Postman
  • a compilation of great sf books to read
  • recommended sf films
  • science fiction that teaches

    • BRIN's nonfiction explorations

  • THE TRANSPARENT SOCIETY
  • privacy, security, accountability and transparency
  • designing and crafting our amazing 21st Century
  • predicting and projecting our near and far future
  • leading and following our politics and economy
  • keeping track of changes in science and technology
  • scanning our sky for habitable (inhabited?) worlds

    • where in the world are David Brin's fans?