The reality of sci-fi

How science fiction is providing real-world lessons and teaching opportunities for students and professors at UBC Okanagan.

Humans have long imagined what the distant future might look like. Staring up into an inky black sky dotted with far-off stars, planets and seemingly endless solar systems, our thoughts inevitably stray to life beyond this singular, planetary experience.

Creators of science fiction take that inherent curiosity and expand it into complex story worlds that draw us into alternate realities rife with futuristic technologies and alien cultures. By imagining the future, science fiction has often, directly and indirectly, influenced the here and now. Its predictive quality has always distinguished the genre and inspired intensely loyal fans.

Whether it’s ray guns, starships, aliens or imaginary planets set in the cinematic worlds of dystopian post-apocalypse scenarios, science fiction offers an extraterrestrial smorgasbord for professors and students alike to explore far deeper social, moral and ethical issues. From future engineers to anthropologists, these glimpses into possible futures are inspiring a new generation of inventors and providing a profoundly relevant way for students to explore intercultural collaboration and culture.

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