"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" - O.W.

Current Study

Current Sub-Studies

Areas of Interest:
> literature, trauma, and ethics
> science fiction and alternate history
> 20th and 21st century literature
> capitalism and the anthropocene
> history and literature of science
> comics and graphic novels
> science communication

26 July 2019

My WorldCon Schedule: Dublin 2019

At the Dublin 2019 Worldcon I'll be presenting a short paper about some of the issues and questions we're asking in the upcoming Science Fiction exhibition at the Science Museum:

"Rethinking Science Fiction in a Museum Setting"
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 15:30 - 16:20, Odeon 6 (Academic) (Point Square Dublin)

I'll also be appearing on the following panels:

Educating Children in How to Avoid a Dystopia
16 Aug 2019, Friday 16:00 - 16:50, Wicklow Room-2 (CCD) 
Dystopian and utopian societies are popular in YA novels likeThe Hunger Games. However, serious ethical concerns about technology, sustainable resources as well as complicated political structures are often glossed over. What should children know about the dangers associated with these societies? What environmental and human costs are in fictional worlds and how do they relate to the real world?
Amy Sundberg, Dr Glyn Morgan (The Science Museum, London), Dr Wanda Kurtçu (California State University, Hayward) (Moderator), Nicole Givens Kurtz (Mocha Memoirs Press)

Luddites of SF
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 17:00 - 17:50, Liffey Room-1 (CCD)
Not all SF evangelises about technology; many genre works actively critique it. But SF that protests or criticises tech is labelled anti-tech or Luddite, even though the original Luddites protested only tech they saw as anti-humanist. Can SF reclaim the original meaning and change the narrative?
Renee Sieber (McGill University) (Moderator), Dr Glyn Morgan (The Science Museum, London), Auston Habershaw (MCPHS University), Avner Shahar-Kashtan.

Portrayals of mental health in genre
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 12:00 - 12:50, Wicklow Hall 2A (Dances) (CCD)
Content warning: may include discussions of suicide and self-harm, mental illness and ableism, eating disorders.
Mental health used well can drive a story, create believable motives for characters and even greater awareness amongst the audience. However, these issues are not always treated sensitively or realistically. This panel will explore examples of mental health issues in genre fiction and consider their implications and accuracy.
Alasdair Stuart (Escape Artists) (Moderator), Penny Jones, Dr Glyn Morgan (The Science Museum, London), Devin Madson

A really interesting selection of stuff, I'm excited to be taking part. Come and say hello if you see me at any point!