The Official Guide to Ethereal Summit NYCheck out the speakers, installations, and big ideas that will be kicking off Blockchain Week this weekend at the Knockdown Center in Brooklyn.
As the blockchain world descends on New York City for Blockchain Week, there’s so much anticipation and excitement that it’s tough to keep a grasp on all the events, parties, announcements, and discussions that will be taking over Manhattan and Brooklyn over the course of the next ten days.
Even amidst the overwhelming array of events taking place during Blockchain Week like Consensus 2018, Token Summit, and Women on the Block, Ethereal stands out for its focus on the sociocultural, philosophical, global, and inclusive elements of the decentralized evolution. This is an ethos that reflects through the programming, from the speakers to the installations to the Zen Zone.
Check out all the speakers, installations, and big ideas that will be kicking off Blockchain Week this weekend at the Knockdown Center in Brooklyn…
Taking a lead in regards to inclusivity and building the future we want to live in, the Ethereal speaker schedule is 50% female and showcases voices from all over the world, from Bermuda (Premier E. David Burt) to the European Union (Eva Kaili) to the steps of the United States Congress (Brian Forde).
Friday morning will feature Mohammad Shakih and Rahilla Zafar of ConsenSys appearing alongside a Saudi contingent including Saud Alsheraihi of Saudi Telecom and Yasmin Altwaijri of King Faisal Hospital and Research Center. With Saudi Arabia looking to enter a period of rapid economic and social change, the discussion titled “From Oil Cranes to Blockchains” will provide insight into how blockchain technology is helping transform the Saudi economy from oil dependency to a more inclusive, diversified, and decentralized economic model.
Approaching blockchain’s impact on global development from the other end of the spectrum, Sandra Ro of the Global Blockchain Business Council will address how blockchain technology can offer a boon to smaller, developing nations as much as established global leaders. With a message of “Small Doesn’t Mean Powerless,” Ro will lay out examples and roadmaps of how decentralized technology is helping emerging nations leapfrog to the front of the pack.
In taking on the essential role of ensuring that the growth of blockchain does not exclude the vast majority of the world — as most technological advents have done in the capitalist era — the World Economic Forum’s Sheila Warren will ask questions like: how do we guard against the creation of top-down, neo-colonialist technological “solutions” to the problems that plague the world’s most vulnerable populations? and how do we share the wealth of this new technology? in a must-see talk titled “Who’s Being Left Behind?”
On a less seirous note, after Daily Show Correspondent Ronny Cheng’s side-splitting and provocative segment on blockchain and cryptocurrency earlier in the year, the breakthrough tech reporter is going one deeper into the blockchain world in a discussion with ConsenSys Founder Joe Lubin and Kavita Gupta of ConsenSys Ventures. We may find out exactly what Chieng now thinks of Ethereum and “other stupid meme currencies.” We bet he’s a HODLer.
Leading voices from around the tech world will be stopping by Ethereal NY to share their learnings from the cutting edge of blockchain adoption. The Wall Street Journal’s Paul Vigna will dive into the role of trust over the history of civilization as studied in his new book Truth Machine (written in collaboration with MIT’s Michael Casey), and Amber Baldet will take on the notion of single chain maximalism. Elsewhere, Aya Miyaguchi of the Ethereum Foundation will discuss her own journey into the blockchain space, and Sid Coelho-Prabhu, Product Lead on Toshi at Coinbase, will offer his take on the state of Web3.
In addition to talks and presentations from leading thinkers in the blockchain space, Ethereal features a full program of art and installations inspired by a decentralized future. At this edition, highlights include Plantoid, a robot designed to look, act and grow like a plant. If you think that’s strange, check out HODLism: An Initial Soul Offering interactive experience that invites visitors to pray to Father Satoshi at an altar to decentralization. All this mind-bending madness will be followed up by a discussion on blockchain as an artistic medium.
With so many ConsenSys projects already playing an essential role in the blockchain ecosystem or racing ever closer towards a full release, the demo schedule at The Lab at Ethereal NYC includes everything from music distribution (UJO) to digital asset accounting tools (Balanc3) to smart contract-based legal agreements (OpenLaw), decentralized exchanges (AirSwap) and the world’s first fully functional decentralized supercomputer (Golem).
Do you know where your nigiri was last night? Supply chain solution Viant will present ‘Sushi and a Movie,’ demonstrating the Viant platform’s functionality in tracking fish as it moves from the oceans of Fiji to dinner plates in New York City. And yes, there will be sushi.
And if you need a break from the big ideas and high energy, the Zen Zone will offer quietude and reprieve in the form of meditation sessions, yoga, and sound baths. You gotta remember to take care of your mind, body, and soul, even when fomenting a decentralized revolution!
In closing out proceedings, ConsenSys Founder Joe Lubin will present his always-anticipated keynote titled ‘Yes It Is Happening: Waystations on the Path to a Decentralized Future,” offering insights as to the direction of ConsenSys and the blockchain world at large in 2018 and beyond.
https://media.consensys.net/the-official-guide-to-ethereal-summit-ny-31bcac78be60
