The Future Begins Now

Saturday, March 18, 2023

10 am – 2 pm

Augusta Library

823 Telfair St., Augusta

Explore new frontiers in the military, space law, virtual reality, and more at The Future Begins Now, presented by the U.S.S. Star League and the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System.

10 a.m.  –  Space Virtual Reality demonstration

Boldly go where few have gone before with your smartphone! Borrow a Google Cardboard unit and go to outer space without leaving the library. You can also check out an even more immersive HTC Vive VR experience. This demonstration will be available between each talk.

10:30 a.m. – May the Air and Space Force Be With You

The Air Force and the Space Force are the two youngest United States military units, both made possible by advances in science and engineering. Retired Colonel James “J.C.” Epting, currently Senior Vice President of National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Operations and Programs for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), will introduce these two integral parts of the U.S. military.

12 p.m. –  The Laws of the Cosmos

In 1967, two years before the moon landing, dozens of countries ratified the Outer Space Treaty, creating a brand new legal specialty, space law. Professor Michael B. Runnels, Butler High school alumnus and professor of Business Law at California State University, Los Angeles, will introduce us to this field.  

1 p.m. – M’Aiken Magic Robotics Takeover

The M’Aiken Magic FRC Robotics Team, the CSRA’s original high school robotics team,  will show off what their amazing robots can do. 

1:30 p.m. – Imagination to Reality

From the smartphone to artificial intelligence, things that were once the stuff of science fiction are now parts of our everyday reality. The U.S.S. Star League will give a presentation on fictional science and technology that have since become real.

For more information, contact outreach@arcpls.org or 706-821-2612.