Key Takeaways
- Feather River College (FRC) will host a public panel titled “Artificial or Intelligence? Our Future in an AI World.” on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in the FRC library.
- The discussion is inspired by the themes of health care, environmental stewardship, the arts, workplaces, and administrative justice explored in FRC’s Book in Common, The AI Con.
- Panelists represent a cross‑section of campus expertise and industry: Bridget Tracy (environmental studies), Josh Olivera (art), Darlene Oertle (allied health), Phil Rader (administration of justice), and David Orvis (private‑sector software engineer).
- Organizers invite the entire community to consider the question: “How is artificial intelligence changing the way we work, create, care for others and make decisions?”
- Light refreshments will be served, and further information can be obtained from Nikki Grose at [email protected].
Event Overview
Feather River College announces a public panel entitled “Artificial or Intelligence? Our Future in an AI World,” set for Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in the FRC library. The college describes the gathering as an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community to engage with pressing questions about the role of artificial intelligence in contemporary life. By scheduling the event in the early evening, organizers hope to accommodate working adults and evening‑class students while fostering a relaxed, conversational atmosphere. The announcement emphasizes that the panel is open to everyone, reinforcing FRC’s commitment to inclusive, interdisciplinary dialogue.
Inspiration from The AI Con
The panel draws its thematic foundation from FRC’s Book in Common for the year, The AI Con. Although the announcement does not detail the book’s contents, it notes that the work highlights “themes of health care, environmental stewardship, the arts, workplaces and administrative justice.” These areas are presented as lenses through which the impact of AI can be examined. By anchoring the discussion in a shared reading, the college aims to create a common reference point that encourages participants to bring informed perspectives to the conversation. The phrasing of the organizers’ central question—“How is artificial intelligence changing the way we work, create, care for others and make decisions?”—directly echoes the book’s exploration of AI’s societal implications.
Panelist: Bridget Tracy – Environmental Studies
Bridget Tracy, a faculty member in FRC’s environmental studies program, will bring her expertise on sustainability and ecological management to the panel. Her perspective is expected to address how AI technologies—such as remote sensing, predictive modeling, and data‑driven conservation—are reshaping environmental stewardship. Tracy’s insights will likely explore both the promise of AI for monitoring ecosystems and the ethical considerations that arise when algorithmic decisions influence natural resource management. Her participation underscores the college’s intention to examine AI’s role in protecting the planet, a theme explicitly highlighted in The AI Con.
Panelist: Josh Olivera – Art
Josh Olivera, an art faculty member, will contribute a creative viewpoint on how AI influences artistic expression and cultural production. Olivera’s remarks may cover topics ranging from generative art algorithms and AI‑assisted design tools to debates about authorship, originality, and the value of human intuition in the creative process. By situating AI within the artistic realm, the panel acknowledges that technology’s impact extends beyond utilitarian fields into the sphere of culture and aesthetics. Olivera’s presence ensures that the discussion will grapple with questions of meaning, beauty, and the evolving definition of creativity in an AI‑augmented world.
Panelist: Darlene Oertle – Allied Health
Darlene Oertle, representing the allied health faculty, will discuss AI’s implications for patient care, medical diagnostics, and health‑care administration. Her expertise is likely to illuminate how machine‑learning models assist in early disease detection, personalized treatment plans, and workflow optimization within clinical settings. Oertle may also address concerns about data privacy, bias in health algorithms, and the need for rigorous validation before AI tools are deployed in patient‑facing contexts. Her contribution aligns with the panel’s focus on how AI is “changing the way we … care for others,” a direct quote from the organizers’ invitation.
Panelist: Phil Rader – Administration of Justice
Phil Rader, a faculty member in administration of justice, will examine AI’s influence on law enforcement, judicial processes, and public safety. Rader’s insights may encompass predictive policing algorithms, risk‑assessment tools used in sentencing, and the use of natural‑language processing for case law research. He is also likely to raise critical questions about transparency, accountability, and potential disparities that could emerge when AI informs decisions affecting liberty and justice. By including Rader, the panel ensures that the theme of “administrative justice” highlighted in The AI Con receives thorough scrutiny.
Panelist: David Orvis – Industry Software Engineer
David Orvis, a software engineer working in private industry, will offer a practitioner’s perspective on the development, deployment, and real‑world performance of AI systems. Orvis can speak to the technical challenges of building robust models, the importance of ethical design practices, and the ways industry collaborates with academia to address societal impacts. His voice bridges the gap between theoretical discussion and practical implementation, providing attendees with concrete examples of how AI is being integrated into products and services that affect daily life.
Community Engagement and Logistics
The organizers explicitly invite “everyone” to attend, underscoring the event’s public nature and the college’s desire to foster town‑gown collaboration. Light refreshments will be served, a detail intended to make the gathering welcoming and conducive to informal networking after the formal discussion. For those seeking additional information, the announcement directs inquiries to Nikki Grose at [email protected], providing a clear point of contact for questions about accessibility, parking, or accommodations. This approach reflects FRC’s commitment to making scholarly discourse accessible to a broad audience, regardless of affiliation or background.
Conclusion
Feather River College’s upcoming panel on artificial intelligence promises a multidisciplinary exploration of a technology that is rapidly reshaping numerous facets of society. By convening experts from environmental studies, art, allied health, administration of justice, and private‑sector engineering, the event aims to illuminate both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI across the domains highlighted in The AI Con. The central question posed by the organizers—“How is artificial intelligence changing the way we work, create, care for others and make decisions?”—will guide the conversation, encouraging participants to reflect critically on AI’s role in shaping our collective future. With light refreshments, an accessible venue, and an open invitation, the panel stands as a timely invitation for the college and its surrounding community to engage thoughtfully with one of the most consequential technological developments of our age.