The Research Lab: A Critical Introduction into Futures Studies

As the world undergoes accelerating and unstoppable changes, the question of the future has become more crucial for those concerned with creating a better world. It is increasingly important to have a sense of direction while navigating the ever-changing world and facing its complexities that affect our personal and daily life as much as altering the destiny of our mother Earth, homeland and humanity. Futures studies serves as a guide in this navigation; and its importance is growing as the global changes go beyond our predictions, control, and planning.

Futures studies developed over centuries from seeking utopia to the scientific inquiry into the future. In spite of the continuing disputes over the essence of futures studies as a science or art, even its name, there is a consensus that it has recently proved itself as a humanistic interdisciplinary field that aims at analyzing the various prospects of the future through deploying imagination, extrapolative logic, and intuition. Based on pluralistic perspective and integrative methodology, Futures Studies has become indispensable for both developed and developing societies. Intensely used in decision-making, it attempts to map out the current trends and the possible changes; to build up the suitable alternatives; to assist in handling the probable problems; to develop the social abilities of strategic planning.

Thus, being the first of its kind in Egypt, this lab is an introduction to futures studies with focus on its critical premises and notions that can sharpen our knowledge of socio-political reality/ realities and to hammer out visions for the possible future/ futures. The lab, therefore, will be discussing the various perspectives of futures studies and the world views they imply in addition to the essential relations between the futuristic thinking and history, philosophy and science. Furthermore, the lab will contain an applied training on the method of scenario planning as a primary application of the art of making the future and rebuilding the reality through constructed collective discussions.

Why apply?

To provide an intensive overview of futures studies. To identify theories of future at play in current events. To know how to anticipate possible changes. To develop critical thinking tools by practicing the craft of research.

Lab Methodology and Requirements

The lab is based on discussion and critical analysis. In each session, some basic texts will be presented, analyzed and discussed. The presenter shall write a summary of the outcome of discussion as a lab requirement. In addition to the basic academic papers, some fiction, and cinematic material will assist as additional material.

Beside attendance and active participation in discussions, each student shall write an interpretive summary of the paper he is going to present. All students will take part in the process of scenario planning; the outcome will be collectively drafted policy papers.