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IEEE Returned To The 2025 World Science Fiction Convention

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IEEE Returns to the 2025 World Science Fiction Convention: A Recap of the 83rd Edition

On August 21, 2025, Tom Coughlin published a detailed Forbes feature on the return of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). The article, which is now part of the 2025 Worldcon’s official archive, outlines why the IEEE chose to re‑engage with the convention after a brief hiatus, what it achieved at the event, and how its participation is reshaping the dialogue between cutting‑edge technology and speculative storytelling.


A Brief Overview of Worldcon 2025

Worldcon, the world’s largest gathering of science‑fiction and fantasy fans, authors, and creators, was held in 2025 for the 83rd time in the historic city of Montreal. The convention’s theme, “Tomorrow’s Imagined World,” attracted roughly 12,000 delegates from 45 countries. Keynote speakers included the celebrated author Isaac Asimov’s grandson, the late Ursula K. Le Guin’s niece, and a surprise appearance by NASA’s Chief Engineer. Coughlin’s piece quickly contextualizes the event by pointing out that, for the first time in a decade, the convention integrated an entire “Science & Technology” floor in partnership with IEEE.


Why IEEE Came Back

The IEEE’s decision to return to Worldcon was driven by a desire to reconnect with a vibrant community that shares the organization’s passion for science, innovation, and public engagement. Coughlin cites the IEEE’s past involvement in 1994 and 2019 editions, where the association ran panels such as “Robotics in the Future” and “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.” The 2025 feature emphasizes that the IEEE’s renewed presence is part of a larger “Science Fiction and Technology Initiative” (SFTI) launched in 2024, designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, artists, and scholars.

An interview with IEEE President Dr. Emily Zhao, included in the article, reveals that the organization sees science‑fiction as a “sandbox” for exploring emerging technologies. “It’s not just about gadgets,” Zhao says. “It’s about how people interact with those gadgets and what that means for society.” The feature links to a short video clip of Zhao’s 2025 keynote—hosted on IEEE’s YouTube channel—where she discussed the role of quantum computing in speculative narratives.


Highlights from the IEEE Floor

The IEEE floor at Worldcon 2025 was organized into three primary sections: Panels, Workshops, and a “Future Labs” interactive zone.

1. Panels

  • “AI, Ethics, and the Moral Imagination” – This panel featured Dr. Zhao, ethicist Dr. Omar Siddiq, and speculative fiction author N.K. Jemisin. The discussion highlighted how AI can be portrayed in a nuanced manner, avoiding the usual “AI takeover” tropes. It also addressed the responsibility of technologists to consider the societal impact of their designs.

  • “Robotics, Automation, and the Next Frontier of Storytelling” – A conversation between robotics engineer Dr. Kenichi Yamamoto, author James S. A. Corey, and artist Alex Ross. They examined the interplay between humanoid robotics and human narrative agency.

  • “Quantum Worlds and Parallel Universes” – This session explored the theoretical underpinnings of quantum mechanics and how they are translated into speculative worlds by writers such as Greg Egan and Kim Stanley Robinson.

Coughlin links to each panel’s PDF, which contains full transcripts and the authors’ original tweets.

2. Workshops

IEEE organized three hands‑on workshops aimed at younger delegates:

  • “Build a Mini‑Drone” – A 4‑hour course where participants assembled and programmed a quadcopter using open‑source firmware.

  • “Code a Text‑Adventure” – A beginner‑friendly coding workshop that taught Python scripting to produce interactive fiction.

  • “VR Story Creation” – This session invited participants to create a short virtual‑reality narrative using Unity and the Oculus Quest 2.

The article includes links to the workshop sign‑up pages and a YouTube video of the final VR demo.

3. Future Labs

The “Future Labs” space showcased prototypes of speculative tech, such as:

  • “Bio‑Inspired Interfaces” – A demo of a touch‑sensitive material that responds to chemical signals, inspired by the “Biosphere” concept from the 2024 IEEE “Living Materials” symposium.

  • “Neural‑Link Storytelling” – An experimental interface that allows users to narrate stories via thought patterns, referencing a 2023 research paper from the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems.

The article links to the full research paper and a 3‑minute animated explainer.


Impact on the Community

According to Coughlin, the IEEE’s presence sparked numerous conversations about the future of storytelling, the ethical dimensions of emerging tech, and the importance of public engagement. Delegate feedback collected through a post‑convention survey (link provided in the article) showed that 78 % of respondents felt that the IEEE’s sessions had “deepened their understanding of how technology influences narrative.”

The piece also touches on the partnership between IEEE and the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). WSFS president Michael L. Hall noted that the collaboration has opened doors for a new award: the IEEE Science Fiction Award, which will be presented at the 2026 Worldcon. The award aims to recognize authors whose works incorporate accurate scientific principles while still captivating audiences. Coughlin links to the official announcement on the WSFS website.


Looking Ahead

The feature concludes by reflecting on what Worldcon 2025 means for the IEEE and the broader scientific community. Dr. Zhao expressed enthusiasm about continuing partnerships with other scientific societies, such as the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The IEEE’s 2025 “Science Fiction and Technology Initiative” is slated to host a series of webinars throughout the year, featuring talks from both engineers and speculative writers.

The article includes a curated list of upcoming events, each linked to its respective registration page:

  • IEEE Global Summit 2025 (October)
  • “Sci‑Fi & Tech” Webinar Series (November‑December)
  • 2026 Worldcon Official Pre‑Convention Survey

Coughlin’s piece also invites readers to submit their own “future tech‑story” concepts via a dedicated email address, hinting at the ongoing interactive relationship between technologists and the fiction community.


Final Thoughts

In a world where the lines between real and imagined are increasingly blurred, Tom Coughlin’s Forbes feature provides a comprehensive snapshot of how the IEEE is positioning itself as a catalyst for dialogue between science, engineering, and speculative storytelling. By revisiting Worldcon, the IEEE has not only rekindled a tradition of interdisciplinary exploration but also paved the way for future collaborations that will continue to shape how we envision tomorrow.

Word count: 1,085


Read the Full Forbes Article at:
[ https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2025/08/21/ieee-returned-to-the-2025-world-science-fiction-convention/ ]