Arts, humanities and education

New FRANKx Lecture Series to launch with Andrew Maynard talk

'Bounded Infinities, Quantum Tunneling and the Future of Education' lecture to examine the need to think beyond the bounds of convention

Andrew Maynard, professor and associate dean in the College of Global Futures, will deliver the inaugural, virtual FRANKx lecture March 19.

March 12, 2021

In 2020, Arizona State University's Frank Rhodes Lecture Series was redesigned to strengthen its strategy — questioning the status quo of higher education by bringing in external leaders and individuals with big ideas that could help change the landscape.

As part of the relaunch efforts, the University Design Institute now offers a second lecture track, the FRANKx Lecture Series. The new series will run alongside the original and shares the same mission — aiming to challenge the current constructs of higher education by bringing thought-provoking leaders to share their visionary ideas. The key difference between the two is that the FRANKx Lecture Series will feature one of ASU's own experts or innovators.

For the inaugural FRANKx lecture, that ASU expert is Andrew Maynard, professor and associate dean in the College of Global Futures. In his "Bounded Infinities, Quantum Tunneling and the Future of Education" lecture, Maynard will examine how current science and technology are now so sophisticated that they offer vast opportunities for innovation — yet there is a growing danger that our obsession with what is possible blinds us to what is necessary and important. Maynard will explore the need to think beyond the bounds of convention as we reconsider our relationship with the future, and what this means for higher education.

The lecture will be held Friday, March 19, from 1–2 p.m. Arizona time, with an optional "deep-dive discussion" immediately after, from 2–2:30pm.

Maynard is a scientist, author and internationally recognized expert and thought leader in emerging technologies and their responsible and ethical development and use. He is a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, associate dean for curricula and student success in the College of Global Futures, and an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Maynard’s most recent book, “Future Rising: A Journey from the Past to the Edge of Tomorrow,” explores our collective relationship with the future, and our responsibility to it.

Moderated by Minu Ipe, managing director and vice chair of the University Design Institute, this webinar is open to all. To attend — and sign up for the discussion if interested — register at links.asu.edu/FRANKxMaynard.

Written by Chelsea Chamberlain.