School of Social Sciences Participates in the International Science Fiction Symposium

On November 4, the International Science Fiction Symposium 'Inventing the Future' started in Moscow at the national centre 'Russia'. Its guests and experts discussed what humanity would be like in several decades in the rapidly changing global space. Professors of HSE University-St Petersburg were guest speakers at the symposium events.

The Symposium 'Inventing the Future' is an international event that has gathered over 6000 participants from the BRICS, SCO, CIS countries, and other states. The event features more than 80 panel discussions, lectures, foresight sessions and interviews. The participants discussed society development, the role of technologies, the transformation of international relations and global ethical issues.

The expert discussion 'Experience of the Past in the Outlines of the Future' featured a presentation by Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the HSE University-St Petersburg School of Social Sciences. In his report, he talked about how the attitude of scientists and the society of the 20th century to nature and the environment had been changing. Alexander Sorokin analysed how the scientific community had arrived at the idea of sustainable development and explained which ecological problems were reflected in the literature and cinematography. 

Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the HSE University-St Petersburg School of Social Sciences

Participation in the events, where researchers, figures of culture and art, representatives of government and business corporations discuss the scenarios of the future together, helps to consider various perspectives and broaden the horizons of understanding. For us as the representatives of academia, it is also about the development of communicative skills and an ability to present our ideas in lay terms. As the practice proves, the solutions created based on the opinions of different sides become more sustainable and efficient. It gives a double effect to a participant and a university: knowledge exchange and development of transdisciplinary ties as well as strengthening of the expert status and university ecosystem.

Another event of the symposium was the discussion panel 'What will Happen after the Alpha Generation?'. This panel featured the speech by Elena Omelchenko, Director of the Centre for Youth Studies at HSE University-St Petersburg. She talked about how generation peculiarities were formed and on which basis we can classify people as generations X, Y or Z.

Elena Omelchenko, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Professor of Department of Sociology, Director of the Centre for Youth Studies at HSE University-St Petersburg

Neither of the existing generations has unique qualities which would distinguish it from the previous one. Each new trend, either technological advancement, emotional intelligence or global thinking, is formed based on previous generations' characteristics. Generation Alpha is likely to become not just users of technologies but their researchers focusing on basic human emotional needs—care and tenderness—and the return to offline communication.

'The symposium is an opportunity to gather people from various spheres—politicians, managers, philosophers, sociologists, technologists, doctors, artists and engineers—in one place. There are a lot of young people and volunteers, it is useful for them to listen to the experts and think about the future which they will build', says Elena Omelchenko.