Open Minds! (formerly: Moving Images blog)

When Steven Spielberg (left) and Harrison Ford (middle) visited Arthur C Clarke in Colombo during filming of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in Sri Lanka, 1983 – Photo owned by Arthur Clarke Estate

19 March 2015 marks seven years since Sir Arthur C Clarke passed away.

In the weeks and months following Sir Arthur’s death, many asked me what kind of monument was being planned in his memory. As far as the Arthur C Clarke Estate is concerned, there is none –- and that seems to surprise many.

Yet it was fully consistent with the man of ideas, imagination and dreams that Sir Arthur Clarke was. Monuments of brick and mortar — or even of steel and silicon — seem superfluous for a writer who stretched the minds of millions. Commemorative lectures or volumes cannot begin to capture the spirit and energy of the visionary who left behind a rich collection of books, papers and ideas.

Photo courtesy ORBIT ’15 event organisers

Imagine and innovate to honour Sir Arthur C Clarke! That was the theme of a tribute I wrote on the first death anniversary.

Speaking at ORBIT’15 astronomy event last week in Colombo, organised by the Astronomy & Space Science Association of D S Senanayake College, Colombo, I reiterated this point. Here are the most relevant slides from my talk:

From “Ride Your Imagination to Space!” by Nalaka Gunawardene

From “Ride Your Imagination to Space!” by Nalaka Gunawardene

From “Ride Your Imagination to Space!” by Nalaka Gunawardene

From “Ride Your Imagination to Space!” by Nalaka Gunawardene

Full PowerPoint: