The St. Michaels University School Spark Night engagement team work hard to put on events open to the SMUS and Greater Victoria community. This month there are two events hosted tackling important topics around today's youth.
On January 16, the SMUS Personal Counselling team, led by Director Carole MacMillan, will champion an evening focused on the 2024 New York Times Bestseller The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Ten days later, on January 28, Artificial Intelligence (AI) consultant and author, Peter Scott, will lead a presentation on how artificial intelligence is transforming education, employment, and the economy.
Over the years, SMUS has invested in connecting the latest in research to the education and well-being of students from Junior Kindergarten to graduation and life after school. Spark Nights are free learning events at SMUS that are open to the Greater Victoria community.
The Anxious Generation
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: Light refreshments 6:00 pm; presentation 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: SMUS Chapel (3400 Richmond Road)
Seats available: 40 (currently there is a waitlist)
The Anxious Generation is a thought-provoking book that explores the rising levels of anxiety and mental health struggles among today's youth. Haidt discusses how societal changes, particularly the rise of social media, overprotective parenting, and cultural shifts, have contributed to increased stress and pressure on young people. The evening will be an opportunity for our parent community to come together to discuss highlights from the book and how we can help our children learn to thrive in a world full of distractions from technology and social media.
What Artificial Intelligence Means to Parents
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: Light refreshments 6:00 pm; presentation 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: SMUS Chapel (3400 Richmond Road)
Presenter: Peter Scott, consultant and author
How is AI changing education, employment, and the economy? Will we become more dependent on AI and lose critical thinking skills, or will AI guide us through volatile times and resolve our most pressing crises? AI consultant and author Peter Scott will discuss those issues and how SMUS students will shape the future in partnership with AI. Peter Scott has a Master's degree in computer science from Cambridge and worked for many years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
For more information on past and upcoming Spark Night events visit smus.ca/spark.
