This lecture series evolved into what is today the Asimov Seminar. The Asimov seminar spans four days late in the summer. The topics have included the nature of artificial intelligence, the economics of bio-engineering, and the politics of global warming. The character of the programs is largely speculative or futurist. During the Asimov seminar you don't just attend, you participate.
Every topic poses both a technical challenge and an important social problem.
These are broken up into manageable tasks, each handled by a small group of participants, usually playing loosely defined assigned roles. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. If it is thought out well and convincingly presented, a group's proposal can alter the course of the entire seminar. Early evenings are reserved for formal lectures. As experts in relevant fields, these lectures are provided by the seminar advisors, which supplies solid background for the participants.