BRIEF: Conference presents look at future

The keynote speaker for the day-long conference, Sidney Adkins, director of university relations for Unisys Corporation, urged the nearly 40 people in attendance to tackle and grasp the current trends toward the globalization of the economy. In his 45-minute address, he also told the audience to understand that the increasing pluralization of technology will have profound effects on the economy that college students will have to face tomorrow. "Your life is going to continue to be a series of changing learning experiences," Adkins said. "You've got a head start, but you've got to work to keep it." In other speeches throughout the day, Edward Moldt -- the managing director of Wharton's Sol Snider Entrepreneurial Center -- launched the conference with a discussion of the differences between the economy of the past and of the future. He added that the great changes that took place in the last 75 years, such as indoor plumbing and electricity in every home, will pale in comparison to the changes that tomorrow will bring. "The only thing you can be sure of is that there will be change," Moldt said. Because of this rapid change in techonology, he added that several things students learn in college will not be of real need. Students instead should "learn to learn," and adapt quickly. After the conference, students lauded several of the speakers, saying that they found the information relevant to their studies at the University. "I found it useful to hear from someone who's had actual practical experience of what he was talking about," said Wharton junior David Garner. -- Eli Faskha

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