How science fiction writers inspire society with dreams and how scientists help answer the young generation's question, "What comes next?" were among the topics at the Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future," held at the National Center "Russia."
On November 5, the business breakfast "Formula for Interaction between Scientists and Content Creators" brought together science fiction writers, publishers, producers, and filmmakers from Russia, Serbia, China, and Italy. Experts discussed the differences between mode fantasy and science fiction, as well as society’s expectations for these genres. The event was co-organized with the ANO "Dialogue Regions" and the New Media Workshop.
As Alexey Goreslavsky, CEO of the ANO "Inteet Development Institute," noted, science fiction is a way to imagine what is fundamentally impossible. "Just as a sculptor looks at a block of marble and sees a statue within it, so do science fiction writers construct the future. Then an engineer or specialist comes along and says, 'Let's try to make that a reality.' Thinking and dreaming are incredibly important, especially for children and teenagers. If you introduce the right film, book, series, or game at the right moment, the results can be incredible," said Goreslavsky.
Participants voiced conces that the format of information delivery has become more important than the content itself. Russian writer Vadim Panov noted that only content based on genuine details can spark the young generation's interest, as they respond most strongly to science fiction and need scientific information presented through relatable role models.
Italian science fiction writer Roberto Quaglia suggested that a lack of knowledge hampers science fiction's growth today. "We might come up with something, only to find out there's already something better that we simply don't know about," he said.
Serbian science fiction writer Goran Skrobonja expanded on this idea, proposing the creation of an inteational scientific information resource to accurately and objectively highlight cutting-edge scientific developments. This platform, he argued, would be an invaluable resource for the future of science fiction.
Experts also discussed the importance of building communication between scientists, writers, and screenwriters, and even suggested training futurists in universities, as science fiction offers a model of the future world.
This theme continued in the roundtable "Science Fiction as a Driver of Development: Creating New Worlds and Universes (including Video Games)." Speakers examined the development of the genre during the Soviet era, the unique evolution of fantasy in China, potential collaborative paths, and visions of the future.
Historian, futurist, and geopolitical analyst Sergey Pereslegin emphasized the necessity of science fiction for innovation. He noted that science fiction often creates artificial scenarios that illustrate possible solutions, showing us valuable insights about the world. "True predictions are often things you haven’t even thought of as forecasts. Stanislaw Lem wrote Solaris in 1964, but only in 2020 did it become clear that he was describing a mindset of the future. If something in a book seems utterly impossible or strange, you've likely captured a small glimpse of a prediction," Pereslegin noted.
Albert Efimov, Vice President and Head of Research and Innovation at Sberbank, shared his view that science fiction allows scientists to shed the constraints of empiricism and say, "This is what I believe, even if I cannot prove it." He added that science fiction is essential to overcoming our fear of the future. "We all fear it, and it approaches each of us. We try on these generative models from books or someone's imagination as if they were our own. Science fiction instills in us the desire to experiment," Efimov emphasized.
James Law, the "Architect of the Future" and CEO of CYBERTECTURE, confirmed this, saying his team creates scenes and worlds, essentially writing a new chapter of science fiction for our planet. "It may be even more interesting than writing books. Each of our new buildings is different, as if we are using new technology to create a new world. Architects like me want these objects to become a reality," he said.
Experts agreed that the world ahead, as envisioned by contemporary science fiction writers, will be incredibly complex. To navigate it, people will need to re-lea how to handle complexity. This future world will be built on thinking, just as the present is built on information. The roundtable was moderated by Andrey Timonov, Acting Director of the Communications Department of the State Corporation "Rosatom."
The Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future" runs from November 4 to 6, with participants including scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and govement representatives from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program includes over 60 sessions across four key areas: the future of humanity, the future of technology, the future of a multipolar world, and the future of civilizations. Event details and broadcasts are available at https://future.russia.ru/.
The Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future" is the first event held by the National Center "Russia," established on July 1, 2024, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. The center is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Inteational Exhibition Forum "Russia" and showcasing the country's achievements. Federal authorities, state-owned enterprises, corporations, and regional representatives participate in the center’s activities.
