Future Evolution of Humanity

The future evolution of humanity is a hugh topic. There are a number of factors that will influence that evolution, including: ways of viewing and dealing with change; and different processes of evolution and change, as well as different substantive areas/stages of evolution (physical, biological, cultural, and consciousness), which it is argued all work through us as human beings and will influence our ongoing evolution.

Additional nearer and middle term factors influencing future human evolution include: Negative trends and dangers, including global megacrisis issues and dangers of nuclear and other types of warfare; positive breakthroughs and opportunities, including in many areas of technology--all with important societal and ethical implications; transhumanist arguments and human-machine- consciousness interactions and future life forms; unexpected events or “wild cards”; the emergence and integration of increasingly complex system levels--of cultures and civilizations-- over time; the movement of humanity out into space, to explore and eventually industrialize and settle in space; military interests in space; the extinction of species and dangers to ecological systems--on earth and in space; interspecies interactions and eventual offspring from humans and “alien” species (if other intelligent life exists in the universe); the evolution of humanity remaining on earth; and the evolution of consciousness--on earth and in space.

Farther-term and far, far future factors that will or can influence future human evolution (if descendents of humans still exist--in whatever form--at that future time) include: the evolution of our solar system; the evolution and fate of the universe itself (and whether our physical universe is just one of many bubble or parallel universes); and the evolution of consciousness to other dimensions of reality. All of these and other factors will be briefly dealt with.

Bio: Professor, Political Science & Futures Studies, California State University , Domingues Hills. Ph.D., M.A.L.D., and M.A. Degrees in International Relations, The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy (at Tufts University \& Coordinated with Harvard University), 1978, 1966 & 1963 respectively. World Future Society; World Futures Studies Federation; Society for Intercultural Education, Training, & Research.

Dr. Groff has been teaching for 24 years, including 22 years at Cal. State University , Domingues Hills, where she originally organized a Future Policy Studies Minor, and regularly teaches courses in futures, global, intercultural, peace & conflict resolution areas. In addition, she is interested in the processes of creativity and learning in different cultures, evolutionary/change processes, and East-West spiritual traditions.
Dr. Groff was recently Lovelace Visiting Professor, Antioch College , Winter, 1995, and served as resident director, California State University International Program in Japan , and associate dean, International Division, Waseda University in Tokyo , 1990-91. Earlier she taught one year at the University of British Columbia and at Fresno State University . She has been active in futures, intercultural, peace \& conflict resolution, & other professional organizations over the years; and has given talks, workshops, and interviews to a wide range of professional, business, educational, religious, governmental, community, and media groups over the years.

To Dr. Groff, the only game in town is how we human beings are going to learn to live together on this planet, in a way that not only lets us survive, but increasingly meets the needs of people on this planet, so that human creativity and spirit can be unleashed and humanity as a whole and in its wonderful diversity can evolve, using technology to improve our lives, while also living in harmony with, and as caretakers of, our natural environment, planet earth. She is committed to do her small part to see that these goals are achieved. She also loves traveling to different countries and cultures and having a global network of friends--which have all enriched her life a great deal and helped her to grow, and sharing life with her new partner and friend, Paul Smoker.