Self-styled chief of confusion to speak at UCCS

Author and researcher John Seely Brown will speak from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 21 at the Lodge.

Brown specializes in organizational studies with specific emphasis on the organizational implications of computer-supported activities. He is a visiting scholar and adviser to the provost at the University of Southern California. He is also the independent co-chairman of the Deloitte Center for the Edge, an advisory business that identifies emerging opportunities in business and technology.

 

On his web site Brown states, “In a previous life, I was the chief scientist of Xerox Corporation and the director of its Palo Alto Research Center. I was deeply involved in the management of radical innovation and in the formation of corporate strategy and strategic positioning of Xerox as The Document Company.”

While head of PARC, Brown expanded the role of corporate research to include topics such as organizational learning, knowledge management, complex adaptive systems, and nano technologies. Co-founder of the Institute for Research on Learning, Brown’s personal research interests include the management of radical innovation, digital youth culture, digital media, and new forms of communication and learning.

“Today, I’m chief of confusion, helping people ask the right questions, trying to make a difference through my work- speaking, writing, teaching,” he said.

Brown is co-author of A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change. The book explores learning through play, innovation, and encouraging imagination, examining a future that grows along with applied technology and the people who engage with it.

The presentation is sponsored by the Freshman Seminar Program. Coffee and pastries will be served. Seating is limited.  Reservations are required. Contact Carrie Arnold for more information or to reserve a seat at 255-4099 or [email protected].

To learn more about Brown visit http://www.johnseelybrown.com/