POTSDAM -- Andrew Haarsager, the head of strategy for Tellart, a design consultancy, will speak on "The Museum as Change Agent" Monday, Feb. 27, at noon in Clarkson's Bertrand H. Snell Hall Petersen Board Room (#20 on the map at http://www.clarkson.edu/about/clarkson_map.pdf).

The talk is part of Clarkson's David A. Walsh ‘67 Arts and Sciences Seminar Series.

"The pace of change is accelerating. As the world moves deeper into the 21st century, challenges and opportunities emerge which must be acted upon faster than ever before. It is clear that many possible vectors are intimidating, to say the least: the rise of machine intelligence and advanced robotics; sweeping political change and the unforeseen migration of populations; the ominous specter of our changing climate, and its implications for upheavals in food, water, and shelter,” said Haarsager.

"What role can museums play to help educate and prepare society for the challenging path that lies ahead?

"Over the past few years, Tellart has engaged in a series of projects that directly address these topics, operating in the 'goldilocks zone' between the constraining pragmatism of the near term --which is relatively predictable -- and the rootless, wildly speculative, sci-fi terrain of the distant future. By navigating between these extremes, plausible future scenarios give us concrete insights into the impact of emerging technologies and provide structure for long-term strategies for both research and development and public policy."

Haarsager will share insights from these projects, their impact and the design process behind them -- concluding with the exciting upcoming collaboration with Clarkson University on New York City's Center for Estuarine Science.

As Tellart’s head of strategy, Haarsager works with clients to conceive and shape new work -- from the development of initial concepts, designs and strategies through to contract and execution. Haarsager’s design and UX methods are grounded in years of experience with the realities of production, combined with a deep understanding of human-centered design and its cultural impact.

Tellart is an award-winning international experience design consultancy that creates interactive objects, immersive spaces and digital experiences for brands, museums and multi-national companies. Over the 16 years of the company’s history, it has been on the forefront of information and interaction design, creating interactive products and spaces that push technological boundaries to create amazing experiences.

Clarkson's David A. Walsh ’67 Arts & Sciences Seminar Series is a weekly colloquium series supported by the School of Arts & Sciences Advisory Council, especially through generous gifts from David A. Walsh '67.