In a world of computer geeks, there is perhaps none geekier than the University of Calgary’s own professor Tom Keenan. This is a dude who taught Canada’s first course on hacking before anybody called it that; he knows better than most the power and pitfalls of the Internet, and takes delight in explaining in great, nerdy detail how “some people out there are doing bad things with technology” (as he put it in a recent TED Talk). In a world of computer addicts, all of this actually makes Dr. Keenan a sexy rock star of computer science.
On Tuesday, April 24 Keenan will host a discussion of the aforementioned issue (the hacking, we mean, not the rock-star bit) in a venue far worthier of his cool stature than any bland old lecture hall—that is, the Ironwood Stage and Grill (1229 9th Ave. S.E.) where he’ll host this month’s Telus SPARK Science Cafe. Joining Keenan will be Barry Sanders, director of the University of Calgary’s Institute for Quantum Information Science, with the conversation moderated by Ben Reed, vice-president of the Western Canadian Robotics Society.
Expect lively debate about privacy, online security and the mind-blowing potential of quantum computing. There’s no charge to attend the event but you’ll want to splurge for a beer to help soften the blow when Keenan mentions the fact that Amazon knows more about you than your own spouse does.
The talk kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 8:30 p.m. For more information about the monthly Science Cafe, or to check out podcasts of previous editions of the cafe, visit sparkscience.ca.
This article by Jacquie Moore appears in Swerve Calgary.