Popular Mechanics has assembled a stellar line-up of presenters for its inaugural FutureTech Conference, a “groundbreaking” one-day event scheduled for 25 October in Bryanston, Johannesburg. After three years as hosts of the annual PM Inventors Conference, says editor Alan Duggan, they’re ready to up the ante with an event that’s destined to become an essential addition to South Africa’s tech calendar.

“The explosive spread of wireless connectivity, the social media landscape, humanity’s relationship with technology, our sustainable future, security in cyberspace – all this, and more, will be tackled by presenters at the top of their game. We intend to unpack and demystify ideas and technologies that are already changing people’s lives beyond recognition.”

Among the high-profile presenters are George Ellis, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Complex Systems at the University of Cape Town, who will speak about the occasionally uneasy relationship between science, technology and humanity. Professor Ellis co-authored The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time with University of Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking, and is considered one of the world’s leading theorists in cosmology.

Then there’s the refreshingly controversial Tim Noakes, Professor in the Discovery Health Chair of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town and co-founder (with rugby legend Morné du Plessis) of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. His subject: “Your body, your future: getting the science wrong.”

Some distinctly scary scenarios will be painted by Dr Annamart Nieman, a practising advocate and former head of a multi-disciplinary team that included cyberforensic experts, forensic auditors, computer engineers and data analysts. Dr Nieman, who has also been a guest lecturer at the FBI Academy in Washington, will discuss the policing of cyberspace.

Other speakers in the compelling line-up include Alan Knott-Craig, founder of World of Avatar and CEO of Mxit, Africa’s largest social network (“In pursuit of a better-connected planet”); James Munn, vice-president of business development in sub-Saharan Africa for wireless giant Qualcomm (“How wireless rules the world”); and Cavan Hill, general manager at Sasol New Energy (“Sustainable energy and the opportunities for future mobility”).

Reprising the popular “Pitch it to the panel” segment from last year’s Inventors Conference, the organisers have invited leading innovators to present their work to delegates for comment and advice.

The FutureTech conference takes place on 25 October at the Didata Campus in Bryanston, Johannesburg. A limited number of seats are now available at the reduced price of R980. To reserve and pay for your seat, visit http://bit.ly/FutureTech2012. For more information, e-mail Nomfundo Calana on nomfundoc@ramsaymedia.co.za with “FutureTech update” in the subject line, or call her on 021-530 3204. Note: All delegates will be eligible to win a tech hamper valued at R10 500, including a 10-inch (64 GB) Lenovo tablet.