Award-winning journalist Peter Nowak, author of Humans 3.0: The Upgrading of the Species, will speak at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Monday, Sept. 23.

The lecture is part of the 2019-2020 Community Read program at Rensselaer, a common reading experience that brings students, faculty, and staff of all disciplines together each year to discuss issues of global concern.

The event is being co-sponsored by the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) and the Rensselaer Speakers Forum. Free and open to the public, it will take place at 7 p.m. in Room 3303 of the Russell Sage Laboratory on campus. Seating is first come, first served.

Published in 2015, Humans 3.0 explores the impact that technological advancement has had on the human species and society, as well as the responsibilities that humans have when it comes to technology and innovation. It was chosen as the Community Read for this academic year at Rensselaer by a committee of representatives from HASS and Student Life.

“We are very excited that this year’s Community Read includes an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage directly with the author,” said Susan Smith, lecturer in cognitive science at Rensselaer. “I encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about technology and innovation.” 

During the event, Nowak, who has been writing about technology for over a decade, will talk about Humans 3.0, along with his upcoming publication, The Rise of Real-Life Superheroes and the Fall of Everything Else, which is scheduled to be released next spring.