The Artist-Lecture Series concluded for this semester with Michio Kaku, who is best known for his numerous television programs such as Through the Wormhole and How the Universe Works. He is also widely known for a tax commercial referring to him as a genius.
Kaku backs up his on-screen presence as a well-respected theoretical physicist at the top of his field. He helped found string field theory and continues Einstein’s research into unified field theory that could unite the four fundamental forces of nature to summarize the physical laws of the universe.
A packed house of more than 400 greeted Kaku as the event had been sold out for more than three weeks.
Kaku, from the outset tried to get the audience thinking and excited about the future of science.
“I try to impart enthusiasm and excitement on the audience. We are entering a golden age of science,” Kaku said.
Those in attendance hoped to learn more about Kaku and his work.
“I want to get a better understanding of him and his work,” said Clayton Marshall, computer science freshman. ”I’m happy to get to just sit and listen to to him.”
Kaku said he enjoys being able to use his television, radio show and his lectures to bring science to the world. Although he said he enjoys teaching at the City College of New York, he knows the real secret to spreading knowledge is through the media.
“Teaching is great to be able to see the immediate reaction on a student’s face, but television and radio are so much more efficient in spreading scientific thought,” Kaku said.
Students were lined up nearly an hour before Kaku was set to speak and seemed excited about the opportunity to see someone they had watched on television. One student, Alex Babu biology junior, got there early to see Kaku as she had been following him on TV for years.
“I’ve been watching him since I was in middle school,” Babu said. “I was glad to get the opportunity to get more knowledge about him and his work.”
His work may be in high-level physics, but the impact of what he is studying is not limited. He sees a future where we are all interconnected and information will pass freely. In his mind, the future life of us humans will be easy and seamless. As the price of information drops, he sees intelligence thriving and being all around us.
“In the future we will have the internet in a contact lens. We will be able to blink and learn anything there is to know,” Kaku said. “In the future you will be able to instantly get in contact with a doctor or a lawyer if you need them. We will live in an augmented reality that will revolutionize science.”
These days there seems to be a bleak outlook on the future, but Kaku doesn’t buy into that. He sees our great transition into a new level of humanity as a great opportunity for the future. He does admit that the job market will change and repetitive jobs will become obsolete. The good news is as science and technology continue to advance, there will be a multitude of new and exciting jobs for future people.
“Many have a dark outlook on the future but I see it differently,” he said, “The future is limitless. As scientists we are excited as this is just the beginning. We’ve come so far since 1900 who knows where will be by 2100.”
