Rebecca Costa, Author of ‘The Watchman’s Rattle,’ to Speak at ODU Oct. 18
October 02, 2012
Rebecca Costa, the visionary sociobiologist and bestselling author of "The Watchman's Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction," will speak at Old Dominion University on Thursday, Oct. 18, for the President's Lecture Series.
Costa, who has received acclaim for offering the big picture about the complex problems of today, will speak in the North Cafeteria of Webb Center. Her talk, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m. To RSVP to this event, visit: odu.edu/univevents (event code: RCL12).
A social scientist, biologist and entrepreneur, Costa attempts to tackle complex problems by offering unique insights and solutions for the most perplexing problems of today. A former executive in the high-tech field, she was instrumental in introducing new technologies for General Electric, Oracle, Apple and 3M.
Costa is one of the leaders in the thought movement, confronting the notion that society's rapid pace of change, in every aspect of our lives, has outstripped our brain's ability to cope. Her work reveals that society's paralysis in the face of mounting problems - from terrorism, to financial meltdowns, to our changing global climate - reflects the gap between what the human brain is able to comprehend and the complexity of the modern world.
In "The Watchman's Rattle," Costa argues that society needs to better grasp the increasing complexity of our social and political arrangements, and reach real-world solutions. Through her writing, she holds out hope and offers solutions for the way forward.
Costa ardently believes each of us is as gifted as Stephen Hawking and Steve Jobs, with the ability to solve complex problems with a flash of insight. She writes that such "Aha!" moments can be encouraged and can solve seemingly intractable problems, no matter how difficult.
Through her lecture, Costa will demonstrate how our brains can develop and sharpen "insight on demand," thereby helping solve the dangerous, complex problems facing society.
ODU's award-winning President's Lecture Series features renowned speakers who share their knowledge, experiences, opinions and accomplishments. Past speakers have included Pulitzer Prize winners, scientists, authors and other leading thinkers.