The Meaning of the 21st Century

In the cover blurb of his outstanding book “The Meaning of the 21st Century” entrepreneur, scientist, philanthropist and the founder of Oxford’s 21st Century School Sir James Martin says: humanity is “traveling at breakneck speed into an era of extremes–extremes of wealth and poverty, extremes in technology, extremes in weapons, extremes of globalism. If we are to survive, we must learn how to manage them all.” If we do not, then according to Martin “we may be headed for a new Dark Ages”.

Martin notes unequivocally, that if humanity is to survive on planet earth, it will do so because of the 21C Transition Generation. These are the creative, innovative and tech saavy teenagers and college students, currently living, very well may experience fresh water running out in many parts of the world (that will ultimately make food production difficult and bring about conflict and war); they will also experience increased climate catastrophies that caused Hurricane Katrina, and significant increases in human population. This generation will be responsible for implementing many of the changes Martin mentions in “The Meaning of the 21st Century”.

In chapter 13 The Awsome Meaning of This Century the author ask the question, “So, what is the meaning of the 21st Century?” Good question. Martin says emphatically that the 21st Century will bring us the following challenges:

1). The Earth 7). The Biosphere 13). Existential Risk
2). Poverty 8). Terrorism 14). Transhumanism
3). Population 9). Creativity 15). Advanced Civilization
4). Lifestyles 10). Disease 16). GAIA
5). War 11). Human Potential 17). The Skill/Wisdom Gap
6). Globalism 12). The Singularity

Not content to just produce a book on the 21st Century Martin also has plans to release a film of the very same title. A gifted futurist, Martin’s ideas about the future and the earth’s sustainability were well-received by attendees at a lecture on the campus headquarters of Microsoft computer software.

The issue that all educators in higher education should be ultimately concerned with is: Are today’s first generation 1.0 colleges and universities prepared for the world their students will inhabit?