Tonight leading New Zealanders will debate live online, the effects of technology on education and society twenty years from today.  Radio New Zealand's Sean Plunket will facilit

Tonight leading New Zealanders will debate live online, the effects of technology on education and society twenty years from today.  Radio New Zealand's Sean Plunket will facilitate the debate, at Te Papa.

People across New Zealand will be able to listen to the policy debate on-line and send in their comments and questions for the panel in real time.

 The eight panelists are:

• Seddon Bennington (CEO Te Papa)

• Maria English (Student and award winning debater)

• Oscar Kightley (Entertainer, writer and commentator)

• Bernice Mene (Secondary Futures 'Guardian' and former Silver Ferns captain)

• Luke Nola (Producer of TVNZ 'Let's Get Inventing')

• Richie Poulton (Director, Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit at Otago University at Otago University)

• Antony Royal (IT entrepreneur and business leader)

• Kevin Norquay (Senior journalist with NZPA)

 Professor Paul Callaghan from Victoria University introduces the 'Think Tech' site via video.

Panelists will look at what sorts of new technologies, in ICTs, nano-technologies, or bio-technologies, are likely to emerge in the future, and the effects these could have on our society and on our education systems.

Are we prepared for this future? Are we equipping New Zealand children to succeed in the future? Are we scared or excited about this? What do we need to do today to be ready?

The debate will launch 'Think Tech' which is a web site set up by Secondary Futures (an education think tank), and built by e-cast. People interested in technology can continue to talk to people interested in education, and New Zealanders from all sectors will be encouraged to share their views on the place of technology in the future of education in the days and weeks ahead; by contributing their own film clips, uploading resources, holding meetings and discussions.

Date: Tuesday 31 March 2009

Time: 7:30pm

Venue:  http://www.thinktech.co.nz

For more information go to: http://www.secondaryfutures.co.nz or http://www.e-cast.co.nz

People are invited to register today on the new site - 'Think Tech'. http://www.thinktech.co.nz  

Once registered you will be able to take part in the debate. All New Zealanders, whether registered or not, will be able to view the debate live by visiting the site.