Ron is Innovation Toronto's chief cook and bottle washer, and he has had the privilege of being able to observe the wonders and challenges of global science and discovery since 2007.He describes the observer role as giving one the sense of being "a mile wide and an inch deep: knowing a little about a lot of things, just enough to ask some really dumb questions". With science fiction quickly becoming science fact, we are in an age of discovery unlike any other. The overall volume of change and civilization-threatening challenges we face together is forcing humanity to contemplate it's collective future and the future of nature-in-our-care in ways unimaginable just a few decades ago. This interactive session will briefly explore some of the more amazing things coming at us while questioning our abilities and readiness to face the multitude of challenging things that are also coming at us. This is what we refer to internally as "the race between genius and stupidity". There will be opportunities during the session to discuss what really worries you most and the things you see that get you most excited about the future. You are very likely to hear "I wonder if" a few times during the session.
Ron Smith is an experienced innovator who left the for-profit world 34 years ago to apply entrepreneurial business principles to social needs. The original plan was to spend 3 or 4 years giving back and then return to the for-profit universe . . . he is running a little late! The focus in this time-line has ranged from the creation of innovative community projects, creation and implementation of local and foreign emergency disaster relief efforts to the global environmental imperative. His commitment to a positive, business-like and balanced approach to community, environment, education and related issues has helped attract some of the best minds in business, education, the environment and the community to work on pragmatic approaches that target the goal of a truly sustainable future. In 2007 Innovation Toronto was born. It began with Ron overseeing an online focus on the startup community in Toronto but quickly evolved to focus on the brilliant breakthroughs and discoveries that global science was bringing to the world. Since that time, Innovation Toronto has strived to showcase the best and brightest ideas that can be found from universities and research institutions worldwide. The ongoing overall mission is to help accelerate the development of the projects and ideas most likely to be of service in a time of local / global need. With the advent of generative artificial intelligence platforms he is deeply involved in exploring the possibilities and potential offered by AI to better promote the promise and wonders of science to the general public. See the attached for a more complete summary of Ron’s remarkable leadership over the years.
