The What If...? Conference (SD)

Find out what the Conference is and stay tuned for videos from the Conference. Find out more about our project at www.TheWhatIfConference.com

The ecosystems we see around us used to be filled with species such as lions, elephants, cheetahs, and camels. These were all normal residents of North America at one time. To scientists, they are referred to as extant, meaning that they did not die out completely, extinct, they only died out in a specific area. What if we could restore these extant animals to where they once lived

A quick Google search of the question "What if Women were in charge?" renders many funny pictures of pink Swiss army knives complete with tubes of lipstick and automobile consoles adorned with cosmetic products. In many respects it seems that people find the prospect of women in charge more of a superficial joke than a reality. By examining how public policy might be different if w

What makes a poet? The definition is broad, no argument, but there are certain characteristics that are found in all poets. What are these characteristics and what would it mean for the world if everyone were to adopt them? What would happen if everyone seized the creative capacity instilled within each of us? What if we were all poets? Caroline has no idea what she wants to be whe

When you look at someone you've never spoken to, you make assumptions based on their appearance. You generalize how that individual may act according to how you've seen people with similar characteristics act in the past. You categorize people as athletes, nerds, Goths, potheads and hipsters; to name a few. For example, a part of you could be surprised to find out that a football s

We all exist in and interact with the same universe. This universe is constant and does not change from one individual to the next; yet, despite this fact, there is always disagreement amongst its inhabitants as to what the nature of reality is. There are things to know of this world, but we as humans are not really very good at knowing them. If we are to place a high value on trut

Historically, religion has been a tremendous force for good, and a terrible impetus for evil. Religion is a world-wide phenomenon that has stimulated good, healthy, moral behavior. And it is simultaneously a world-wide phenomenon that has promoted evil, unhealthy, immoral behavior. On balance, and ultimately, has religion been a \good"thing or a \""bad\"" thing? Would the world hav

As technology progresses, intrusions of privacy by governments, corporations and private persons and groups have become common place and insidious. This is a discussion about the erosion of our privacy. Dr. Tobias T. Gibson is associate professor of political science, lives in Fulton, is a proud Hoosier and is a social wallflower who blends.

There are few words in American social and political culture that carry as heavy a stigma as communism and socialism. This is true now, and was especially true during an ideological era known as the Second Red Scare, or McCarthyism, bearing the namesake of Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. What if the panic, finger-pointing, propaganda, and witch-hunting associated with this mo

As a way to avoid collateral damage, minimize environmental impact, glorify human capacities besides violence, and, yes, boost the ratings of sports channels, I propose that we replace wars with the Olympics. What would it take? What would it look like? Is it already happening? Knowing nothing about either warfare or sports, I have no answers to offer. What I would like to do is as