Possible Discussion Topics
-- a university of arizona course on methods and approaches for studying the future

These topics are examples of what we might use for Caucus discussions, or team/individual projects. Other items can be added as appropriate.
Environment/Energy Related
• Global warming
• Energy options and alternatives
• Air and water quality and quantity
• Toxics/hazardous materials/pesticides
• Population growth and distribution
• Yucca Mountain (Nuclear waste disposal area in Nevada)
• General environmental trends
• Sustainability
 
• Technology Related
• Genetic engineering/genetically modified organisms
• Information/communications technologies
• Space exploration and life
• Nanotechnology (miniaturization)
 
Other topics
• Education and learning
• Values
• Food
• Work
• Health
• Terrorism
• World governance methods/options
 
Possible "what if" topics to pursue
• It is discovered that a secretive scientist has cloned a human. What do you do with the information, the scientist, and the clone?
• A world government is formed as a solution for resource distribution, economic vitality, and the human condition. What approaches might work what might not?
• The boom years of the 1990s came on hard times in the 2000-2001 time frame. Conventional wisdom is that a recovery will occur but not a return to the 1990s conditions. Assuming the actual conditions are uncertain, what will life be like for the next 3-5 years and what are the key issues that may trigger changes?
• Science finds that the discussion over global warming was a lot of hot air and the changes are within normal variation. What impact does that have on science addressing practical problems of world concern?

Return to "Anticipating the Future" course home page
Prepared by Roger L. Caldwell