FUTURIST UPDATE
News & Previews from the World Future Society
December 2003
FUTURIST UPDATE
News & Previews from the World Future Society
December 2003
FOX ADDRESSES MEXICAN CHAPTER CONFERENCE
President Vicente Fox conveyed his congratulations via videotape to attendees of the Mexican chapter's recent meeting, "The Futures of the World, Alternatives for Mexico."
Billed as a "high-level dialogue," the meeting drew a stellar array of futurists from around the world, including Wolfgang Michalski of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gustavo Best of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Thierry Gaudin of Prospective 2100, and University of Houston, Clear Lake, professor Wendy Schultz of Infinite Futures.
The conference, held November 5-7 in Mexico City and one of the most ambitious events planned by any WFS chapter, was organized by Mexican Chapter President Julio A. Millán B. "The organizers' main objective is to serve our country’s planning, both prospective and strategic," he said. "Together, with the participation of high-level individuals, we will assist in the construction of a future that Mexico aspires to and deserves."
DETAILS: WFS México, http://www.wfsmexico.org/EN/index.php
FAMOUS ROBOTS
Star Wars' "R2-D2," NASA's "Sojourner," Arthur C. Clarke's "HAL 9000," and Unimation's "Unimate" are the 2003 inductees in Carnegie Mellon University's Robot Hall of Fame, founded earlier this year to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the university's Robotics Institute.
Clarke's HAL, the villain in "2001: A Space Odyssey," is technically a computer, but as an autonomous intelligence qualifies as a robot, according to the Hall of Fame's guidelines.
By honoring both fictional robots (lovable droid R2-D2 and evil computer HAL) and real ones (Mars explorer Sojourner and industrial robot Unimate), the Hall of Fame recognizes both the scientific and the inspirational achievements of robot creators. The goal is to increase public awareness of the benefits that robots are bringing to society.
SOURCES: Carnegie Mellon University: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/031110_hallfame.html
Robot Hall of Fame: http://www.robothalloffame.org
2004 CONFERENCE VOLUME PLANNED:
ESSAYS INVITEDThe volume of insightful essays that was published in conjunction with the 2003 annual meeting met such high praise from conference goers and others that the Society has decided to produce a new volume for "WorldFuture 2004: Creating the Future Now!"
A team of editorial staff members and advisers will support Professor Howard F. Didsbury Jr., long-time editor of the Society's conference volumes, in this energizing intellectual undertaking. To submit a paper, please check out the guidelines online, or contact Conference Director Susan Echard, mailto:sechard@wfs.org, if you have any questions.
"WorldFuture 2004: Creating the Future Now!" will be held July 31 through August 2 at the Grand Hyatt Washington; the Professional Members' Forum follows on August 3.
DETAILS: http://www.wfs.org/2004main.htm
REGISTER and Save $200 before December 31:
ORDER the 2003 conference volume, 21st CENTURY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES: http://www.wfs.org/wfsblurbs.htm#century
URBAN PLANNING VS. OBESITYCan communities be redesigned to solve the obesity crisis? That is the goal of the Active Living by Design project, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
Twenty-five U.S. communities have been awarded grants to adopt design solutions for architecture, land use, transportation, parks, and other issues, with a special focus on encouraging physical activity among inhabitants.
For example, doctors in Norwich, Vermont, will begin prescribing walking for their patients. In Pennsylvania, a multi-use trail network will be developed to connect 21 small towns. And in Jackson, Michigan, teenagers will lead a Safe Routes to School program.
"We believe these partnerships and their proposed work represent the leading edge of a growing national movement to increase physical activity," says Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of RWJF. "As a result, we have a new weapon in our fight to curtail the growing epidemic of obesity and health-related problems."
SOURCE: Active Living by Design, http://www.activelivingbydesign.org
CLICK OF THE MONTH: NESTA: THE CREATIVE INVESTOR
http://www.nesta.org.uk/The National (U.K.) Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts provides funding and other support for British inventors, whose projects are showcased on NESTA's lively Web site.
The developer of a device to improve the way floors are laid, making building sites safer, is one recent awardee. Other award-winning innovators profiled include a dance company that offers choreography lessons via Web casting, and "Bedroom Britain," a project to inspire teenage entrepreneurs by highlighting successful creative people (who often use their bedroom-sanctuaries as idea incubators).
The "Inspire Me" section offers an array of fun and mind-stretching interactive features and links, so it's a good place to begin your journey in innovation.
NURTURING GLOBAL SKILLS
National security could be undermined in the United States by citizens' lack of "global skills," a new report warns. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, "sealed the case" for global education, when Americans were blindsided by their ignorance of international threats.
"The global challenges of the new millennium impose an urgent demand on Americans," declares the study, prepared by NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisers). "International knowledge and skills are imperative for the future security and competitiveness of the United States."
A global skills knowledge set should include foreign-language proficiency, comprehension of international problems, and broader awareness of multicultural issues in all fields, suggests NAFSA, which urges government, higher-education institutions, and the private sector to increase opportunities for U.S. students to study abroad.
SOURCE: NAFSA: Association of International Educators report, "Securing America's Future: Global Education for a Global Age": http://nafsa.org/press
WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Coming soon to World Future Society members' mailboxes is a special letter from President Edward Cornish, delivering his annual report on the Society's activities and plans for next year.
In his letter, Ed tells members how extremely grateful the Society is for all their support. Because WFS operates independently--not beholden to government, corporate, political, or other interests--we rely on the generous contributions that members offer beyond the dues we have tried to keep modest over the years.
I hope his words inspire you to lend your extra support for such critical programs as the World Future Network, Student Membership, and the scholarship fund to help students attend the Society's conferences. DONATE online at http://www.wfs.org/donate.htm
One exciting bit of news is that Ed has finished writing his book, FUTURING, and early reviewers such as Marvin Cetron and Lester Brown are lavishing high praise on what should become the quintessential text for futures studies for years to come.
Pre-order FUTURING: THE EXPLORATION OF THE FUTURE by Edward Cornish (February 2004): http://www.wfs.org/futuring.htm
FUTURIST UPDATE: News & Previews from the World Future Society is an e-mail newsletter published monthly as a supplement to THE FUTURIST magazine. Copyright © 2003, World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, U.S.A. Telephone 1-301-656-8274; mailto:info@wfs.org; Web site http://www.wfs.org.
To subscribe, send an e-mail message to mailto:majordomo@wfs.org with "subscribe futurist-update" in the BODY of the message.
Send feedback or contributions to Cindy Wagner, editor mailto:cwagner@wfs.org.
THE WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and educational association with some 25,000 members worldwide. Membership in the Society, including a subscription to THE FUTURIST magazine and numerous other benefits, is just $45 per yea r ($20 for full-time students under age 25).
For more information on the Society and all its programs, publications, and services, contact Membership Director Susan Echard, mailto:sechard@wfs.org, or visit http://www.wfs.org.