Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) is excited to announce the return of its Lecture Series after a hiatus due to COVID-19. Several thought-provoking and enlightening presentations are planned for this academic year with the potential of additional sessions later in the year.
The 2021-2022 RCTC Lecture Series kicks off on Thursday, November 4, 2021, with RCTC Philosophy Instructor Brendan Shea, Ph.D., discussing how recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) promise sizable benefits to humanity, but also impose significant risks. This talk will explore some of the ethical issues that arise in the development and deployment of AI. “From Killer Robots to Life-Saving Scans: An Introduction to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligences,” begins at 7:00 p.m. in the RCTC Heintz Center Commons, located at 1926 College View Road.
The Lecture Series continues in December with “Water Stories: A Discussion of Rochester’s Most Precious and Vulnerable Natural Resource.” Join RCTC’s Environmental Science Program’s Cory Rubin, Ph.D. and Jennifer Rubin, Ph.D., as they discuss where we get our drinking water, what happens to it when it goes down the drain, and simple ways to help protect our water from pollution. The presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, in the RCTC Hill Theater.
RCTC Music Instructor Matt Hafar, Ph.D., has traveled, taught, and performed all around the world. He returned to campus this fall after a two-year leave where he taught English in Hong Kong, which was in the throes of political unrest, cultural changes, and a global pandemic. The RCTC Lecture Series continues its 2021-2022 season with Dr. Hafar presenting “Living and Teaching in Hong Kong: Two Years of Upheaval, Challenge, and Joy,” on Thursday, March 3, 2022, in the RCTC Hill Theater, with the presentation beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Each RCTC Lecture Series event is free and open to the public and is presented by the Rochester Community and Technical College Campus and Community Engagement Committee. In accordance with current COVID-19 safety regulations, all attendees must wear face coverings and adhere to applicable COVID-19 safety procedures.
For additional information about the RCTC Lecture Series, please visit rctc.edu/lectureseries.