[ExI] ExtroBritannia’s August event. Cryonics: Why it has failed, and possible ways to fix it - with Mike Darwin

[estropico]

The next ExtroBritannia event is scheduled for Saturday August 2,
2008; 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Venue: Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building,
Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX. The event is
free and everyone's welcome.

Guest Speaker: Mike Darwin.

President of Alcor Life Extension 1983-1988, Research Director
1988-1992. Described by Wikipedia as "Second only to Robert Ettinger
as one of the most influential figures in the controversial field of
cryonics".

The talk will draw on the speaker's extensive personal experience with
cryonics - the low-temperature preservation of humans and other
animals that can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine,
until such time in the future when resuscitation may be possible.

The talk will cover: the audacious ambition and vision of cryonics,
practical details of how it works, a whistle-stop history of cryonics,
issues with the governance of cryonics organisations, factors
influencing public perception of cryonics, and reasons for both fear
and hope for the future of cryonics.

Special attention will be given to the decline of cryonics in the UK
and the failure of UK cryonics to establish a robust, full-service
beachhead in Britain. The talk will also highlight what can be done to
re-establish cryonics in the UK as a stable enterprise that will
deserve the confidence of both its members and the public as a
competent, high quality undertaking offering services which meet the
highest ethical, scientific and biomedical standards.

The meeting is sponsored by the UK Transhumanist Association. There is
no charge to attend. Join the debate!

The venue

Birkbeck College - Room 541, 5th floor, Main Building, Torrington
Square (which is a pedestrian-only square), London WC1E 7HX – MAP:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/maps

The nearest tube station is Russell Square. Come out of the tube
station and turn left, to walk west along Bernard St. Cross over
Herbrand St then Woburn Place and keep walking westwards, on the north
side of the square. Cross Bedford Way, and turn right into Thornhaugh
St, then immediately left to enter Torrington Square through the
pedestrian-only courtyard outside SOAS (the School of Oriental and
African Studies). Veer right and you'll see the main entrance to
Birkbeck College on the left as you walk up Torrington Square. Take
the lift to the 5th floor and follow the signs to room 541.

Discussion is likely to continue after the event in a nearby pub, for
those who are able to stay. There's also the option of joining some of
the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in
"The Friend At Hand" pub which is situated behind Russell Square tube
station on Herbrand Street. There's also the option of joining some of
the UKTA regulars for drinks/lunch beforehand, starting c. 12.30, in
the same pub. To find us, look out for a table where there's a copy of
Aubrey de Grey's book "Ending Aging" displayed.

The ExtroBritannia blog: http://extrobritannia.blogspot.com/
The mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/extrobritannia/
The UK Transhumanist Association's website: http://www.transhumanist.org.uk/