http://self.gutenberg.org/wplbn0002096542-rossum-s-universal-robots-by-karel-capek.aspx
https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/capek/karel/rur/
For
the third time, ICTP is pleased to host a play staged by
students from the Trieste secondary school "G. Corsi", under
the expert guidance of the teachers Elisabetta Gustini and
Silvana Aleffi.
The
performance will take place in the Budinich Lecture Hall on 9
March 2016 and foresees participation of ICTP scientists and staff
together with the students, as in the previous editions.
After
presenting the intriguing personalities of Nikola Tesla and
Hypatia, this year's proposal will be based on a play by Karel
Capek a precursor of science fiction. The Czech author, in his
play "R.U.R. Rossum’s Universal Robots" (1920), is the one who
introduced and made popular the word "robot" to define
non-human replacements of human beings.
The
subject is truly inspiring, it opens up both scientific and
moral themes: like possible evolution of social relations,
development of artificial intelligence, freedom from material
work, and more widely the frontiers of science.
Anyone interested to actively contribute to the project is
most welcome.
You
can either write a text based on personal
feelings/experiences, to be inserted in the script, and then
read or play it on stage, or just take part by acting with the
students.
Food
for thoughts will be provided to those who will show their
interest to participate: the original text of the play (in the
English or Italian translation) and a series of questions to
reflect upon.
Kindly
contact us by: 13 November to express your interest.
The deadline for the written contributions, for inclusion in
the script, is December 11, 2015.
Participants
will be asked to take part in some rehearsal with students.
Thank you.
Nicoletta Zar (zar@ictp.it)