Lauder-Kobayashi Socrates Seminar

Held in partnership with the Aspen Institute Japan, and generously supported by the Lauder-Kobayashi Scholarship, the Socrates Kanagawa Seminar will take place from May 22-24, 2026. Socrates international seminars include three seminar sessions, program meals, and local excursions/tours.

Seminar tuition is $3,000, which includes lodging, materials, and meals. Tuition does not include travel. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in participating.

The Mad Scientist Among Us: The Tension Between Innovation And Destruction 

Innovation has been the source of increased wealth, new technologies, and growth at a rapid pace over the past two centuries. Our society either lauds the individuals who drive change as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders or denigrates them as mavericks out of touch with reality. Often the technologies they invent rely on creative destruction to drive their successes, but this raises the question of when its acceptable or not. Join us for an exploration of case studies of innovators, innovation, and regulation. When does creative destruction cross the line into complete destruction? Can regulation keep guardrails on the creative process or is it always a step behind?           

Moderator: Ryan Patel

is a Futurist, Board Director, and Senior Fellow with the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.

Organized in partnership with: