Bina Venkataraman: The power to think ahead in a reckless age

The speaker shares a personal story about an heirloom that becomes a metaphor for foresight. They discuss the societal focus on the present over the future and identify three key mistakes: what we measure, what we reward, and what we fail to imagine. The speaker introduces tools to aid foresight, using examples from agriculture, history, and fisheries. The talk concludes with a reflection on being good ancestors and the importance of protecting heirlooms for future generations.

What does the speaker use as a metaphor for the importance of foresight?

• A historical document

• A family heirloom

• A modern gadget

• A scientific theory

What is 'mental time travel' according to the speaker?

• A method of predicting the future

• A scientific experiment

• The human ability to think ahead

• A fictional concept

Which of the following is NOT one of the three key mistakes that impair foresight?

• What we measure

• What we reward

• What we consume

• What we imagine

Why does the speaker believe that focusing on quarterly profits is a mistake?

• It enhances customer loyalty

• It improves employee satisfaction

• It leads to increased competition

• It does not ensure long-term growth

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the importance of learning from history?

• The development of modern medicine

• The construction of ancient pyramids

• The Onagawa nuclear power station

• The invention of the internet

How did George Washington Carver help Alabama sharecroppers?

• By introducing modern irrigation

• By developing new crop varieties

• By creating uses for peanuts

• By inventing new machinery

What is the purpose of creating 'shared heirlooms' according to the speaker?

• To enhance cultural diversity

• To promote technological advancement

• To preserve resources for future generations

• To increase personal wealth

What does the speaker suggest is necessary to reclaim foresight?

• Seeing ourselves as ancestors

• Focusing on immediate profits

• Relying solely on technology

• Ignoring historical lessons

What role does the speaker believe they have with the antique instrument?

• To display it in a museum

• To preserve it for future generations

• To sell it for profit

• To use it for personal gain

What is the speaker's ultimate message about the future?

• The future is solely the responsibility of governments

• The future requires effort and foresight

• The future is only important for personal success

• The future is unpredictable and should be ignored