The Atlantic and the University of California San Diego will hold the second annual “The Atlantic Meets the Pacific” forum, October 7-9, 2012, at premier venues on and around the campus of UC San Diego. Building upon last year’s highly successful program, the event will explore new frontiers and breakthrough technologies in science, energy, health, and media.

Through headline interviews and panel discussions, as well as behind-the-scenes access to the country’s top-ranked research facilities, the program will feature speakers who are working at the cutting-edge of technological innovation. Participants include:  J. Craig Venter of the J. Craig Venter Institute; Jane McGonigal, a world-renowned designer of alternate reality games; Chris Cox, the product development leader at Facebook; and Jessica Jackley, the entrepreneur who pioneered peer-to-peer micro-lending through her start-up, Kiva. In addition, V. S. “Rama” Ramachandran, New York Times bestselling author of The Tell-Tale Brain, will discuss the revolutionary neuroscience underway in his University of California lab, and Gretchen Rubin, international bestselling author of The Happiness Project, will share her findings about the science of happiness. Additional speakers will be announced this summer.

Participants will be joined by some of The Atlantic’s leading editorial voices, including: James Bennet, editor-in-chief; Steve Clemons, Washington editor-at-large; James Fallows, national correspondent; Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent; and Alexis Madrigal, senior editor.

Event attendees will also witness innovation first-hand. Many of the conversations will take place at the Scripps Seaside Forum, an ocean-front conference center facility located in the heart of the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). The event will include behind-the-scenes tours at SIO, UC San Diego’s Calit2 digital media laboratory, and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.

“Southern California—home to an inimitable entrepreneurial spirit—is the perfect backdrop against which to discuss and debate emerging trends in science, energy, health, and media,” said Elizabeth Baker Keffer, president of AtlanticLIVE and vice president of The Atlantic. “Throughout its history, The Atlantic has drawn together provocative, original thinkers to debate key issues shaping our world, and we’re excited to once again partner with UC San Diego in this annual exploration of cutting-edge ideas.”

“The partnership is a perfect fit,” said Mary Walshok, UC San Diego associate vice chancellor of public programs and dean of Extension, the host of the event. “UC San Diego is one of the nation’s most accomplished research universities, renowned for its collaborative, diverse and cross-disciplinary energy that transcends traditional boundaries in science, arts and the humanities. Our award-winning scholars are experts at the forefront of their fields with an impressive track record for achieving scientific, medical and technological breakthroughs.”

Since its founding in 1857 as a magazine about “the American Idea,” The Atlantic has been America’s leading destination for the exploration of vital ideas and groundbreaking journalism. Beginning in 2005, The Atlantic has partnered with the Aspen Institute to bring national and global leaders together to discuss the ideas and trends shaping our world at the Aspen Ideas Festival and, since 2009, at the Washington Ideas Forum. The Atlantic Meets the Pacific expands upon that tradition with a focus on looking forward to what the future might hold.

To register for The Atlantic Meets the Pacific, please visit the registration site. General admission, which includes access to all main-stage programming, a choice of lab tours, and a welcome dinner and subsequent meals, is $795.00. Members of the media interested in obtaining press credentials should contact Natalie Raabe at The Atlantic (nraabe@theatlantic.com).