Science Fiction Writer
ROBERT J. SAWYER
Hugo and Nebula Winner

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During the 1997-1998 season, "2020 Vision" aired monthly on @discovery.ca, a nightly science-news TV program on the Canadian version of The Discovery Channel. Each "2020 Vision" futurism segment began with an interview with science fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer, playing the role of a person in the year 2020 A.D. The interviews were conducted in studio by one of @discovery.ca's hosts — usually Gill Deacon, but sometimes Jay Ingram.

The actual interviews were unscripted. Rob did the research for them, and developed them in conversations with "2020 Vision" producer Bennett Schaub. Available here are transcripts prepared by The Discovery Channel of rehearsals of interviews; because these are transcripts of rehearsals, the actual text doesn't match what was aired, although the general content is highly similar.

After each interview, the "2020 Vision" panel — science fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer, computer scientist A. K. Dewdney, religious-studies professor Michael Higgins, and medical doctor Pauline Mazumdar — debated the topics raised during the interview segment. The panel discussions were usually moderated by Jay Ingram, but sometimes Gill Deacon filled in.

"2020 Vision" Rehearsal Transcripts:

• Male Pregnancy
• First Contact
• Ape Civil Rights
• Virtual Visits
• Genetics
• Teleportation
• Brain Implants
• Resurrecting Mammoths
• Immortality
• Second Coming of Christ
• Robot J. Sawyer
• The Living Sea

• A dialog between Rob Sawyer and A. K. Dewdney about the ideas in Ray Kurzweil's book The Age of Spiritual Machines

"Robert J. Sawyer is not only a brilliant writer but also an insightful broadcaster who is as compelling to watch on television as he is to read in print. He has mastered the skill of turning his powerful visions of the future into relevant and thought-provoking commentary on the major issues facing us today."

— Paul Lewis
Executive Producer
The Discovery Channel

More Good Reading

"2020 Vision" press release

Inventing the Future: a documentary Rob co-hosted for the Discovery Channel

Rob's CBC Radio Science FACTion columns
Rob on TV — with lots of stills!
Media backgrounder on Rob Sawyer
Radio-TV Interview Report ad for Factoring Humanity
Radio-TV Interview Report ad for Frameshift

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