World Future Society -- 2007 Opening

Learn how the brain circuitry of lust, attraction, and attachment contribute to current world patterns of courtship, adultery, divorce, remarriage, and love addictions. With a clearer understanding of human nature, we will be able to anticipate ways in which family life will change (and not change) in developing and developed countries in the coming decades.

The three brain systems for mating and reproduction consist of lust, romantic love, and attachment. The biology and evolution of “love at first sight,” “abandonment rage,” love addictions, why you fall in love with one person rather than another, “hooking up,” and other phenomena associated with romantic love will be explored. A discussion of world trends affecting sex, romance, marriage, and divorce that will define this century and how serotonin-enhancing antidepressants and other medical and technological innovations can jeopardize the sex drive, romantic love, and long-term attachment will take place.

Helen Fisher, research professor and member, Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; author, Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love and The First Sex: The Natural Talents of Women and How They Are Changing the World, New York, New York

We are unraveling the workings of life and there is great hope that a wave of novel and potent healthcare breakthroughs are coming our way, such as wonder drugs for intractable diseases and medical miracles ranging from life extension to cognitive enhancement, to name just a few. These extraordinary future innovations are routinely covered by journalists looking for compelling stories and debated by bio-ethicists trying to draw a line between therapy and enhancement or who are worried about future disparities between haves and have-nots. But how soon will our rapid and undeniable research advances generate real world medicines and treatments of consequence? Will we be the first generation to see them, or will that distinction be reserved for our children or grandchildren? How much will these developments change our lives and our world? Will the pharmaceutical regulatory structures that are meant to protect us, come to afflict us by impeding the development of innovative therapeutics? How can we best balance risk and reward in this era of rapid innovation?

Gregory Stock, president and CEO, Signum Biosciences, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey; director, Program on Medicine, Technology, and Society, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; author, Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future

WELCOMING RECEPTION
9:00-10:30 p.m.

Wine-and-cheese reception following the Opening. Meet new friends. Renew old friendships. Network and socialize with colleagues.