Science Fiction Imagination Public Classroom: Exploring the Future through the Integration of Literature and Technology
On the afternoon of April 22nd, the Shenzhen Social Welfare Foundation's SCIENCE & FANTASY GROWTH FOUNDATION, in collaboration with the Shenzhen University Library, held the 2024 Science Fiction Popularization Support Program's Science Fiction Imagination Public Welfare Classroom event at the No. 2 Lecture Hall of the Huixing Building on the Yuehai Campus.
Following the 2021 Gansu "Paddle with Science Fiction, Row to the Sea of Imagination" public welfare project, the 2022 science fiction writing and science fiction art classes in Daliangshan, Sichuan, and the 2023 AI classes for primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou, Guangdong, this year, the "Science Fiction Imagination Public Welfare Class" has undergone a comprehensive upgrade. The Science Fiction Fund will join forces with local governments and the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) departments of major enterprises to launch a nationwide sustainable plan, amplifying the charm of science fiction in a public welfare manner and inspiring the imagination and creativity of young people. In addition to Shenzhen, the first batch of cities this year includes Jiangxi, Gansu, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Henan, and other places. The list of second-batch cities is also being updated gradually.
The theme of the event in Shenzhen was "Meeting in Opposite Directions, Echoing from Afar | Embarking on a Journey of Wisdom, Experiencing the Wonderful Collision of Literature and Technology". Mr. Lu Ban, a cutting-edge science fiction writer and Hugo Award finalist, and Mr. Ma Yuepeng, an expert in the field of technology and entrepreneurial mentor at the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Demonstration Base, were specially invited to give wonderful lectures to the vast number of teachers and students. Mr. Ma Guobin, the initiator of the SCIENCE & FANTASY GROWTH FOUNDATION, Chen Ruoyun, the secretary of the Party branch of Shenzhen University Library, Yu Yunjing, the deputy director of the library, and many other guests as well as numerous teachers and students, jointly participated in this event. This was not only a feast of literature and technology, but also an encounter journey of the soul and the future.
At the beginning of the event, the SCIENCE & FANTASY GROWTH FOUNDATION awarded Lu Ban the title of "Science Fiction Public Welfare Ambassador", and together with the fund, he spread science fiction culture in a public welfare way, making science fiction younger, more trendy, and more fashionable. Subsequently, Mr. Lu Ban gave a lecture titled "Standing Closest, Seeing Farthest: Technical Reflections in Science Fiction Literature". By comparing architectural styles of different eras, he deeply analyzed how Bauhaus design principles and modern technology have been transformed from science fiction predictions to reality. During the lecture, Mr. Lu Ban's views on the impact of standardization and the algorithm era on humanity triggered deep thoughts among the teachers and students present. He called on everyone in Shenzhen, a city at the forefront of technology, to pay more attention to science fiction literature and feel its unique charm and inspiration through reading science fiction novels.
In the subsequent Q&A session, Mr. Lu Ban patiently answered students' questions about the intersection of science fiction and reality, as well as science fiction literature's ability to predict future technologies. He expressed an optimistic view towards the future of humanity, believing that humans always make progress by solving problems. He mentioned, "In the long river of history, there is indeed nothing new under the sun. We cannot accurately predict the future of technological development, nor do we need to formulate a standard answer for it."
Immediately afterwards, Mr. Ma Yuepeng, an AI technology expert, delivered a lecture on "AI Creative Thinking and Experience". He elaborated on the revolutionary applications of AI in the fields of art and design, and demonstrated the important role of AI in artistic creation through practical cases. Mr. Ma Yuepeng also shared tips and paradigms for using prompts, guiding students on how to effectively utilize AI for creation. During the Q&A session, students actively asked questions, and Mr. Ma Yuepeng provided in-depth answers on issues such as how AI can promote the development of creative industries, the use of prompts, and future career positioning. He emphasized that in the era of AI, more emphasis should be placed on cultivating the imagination and creativity of the next generation, and actively embracing the changes brought by AI.
It's worth mentioning that the SCIENCE & FANTASY GROWTH FOUNDATION also donated a batch of science fiction literary works to the Shenzhen University Library during this event, aiming to collaborate with the library to promote science fiction reading on university campuses, cultivate the "soil" of science fiction, sow the "seeds" of science, and stimulate students' imagination and creativity.
This event not only enhanced students' understanding of the future of technology, but also sparked their enthusiasm for science fiction literature, laying a solid foundation for cultivating future innovators and thinkers.