Derek Woodgate

By Derek Woodgate

Conference Chair

THE 24th World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) World Conference will be held as a hybrid event in Berlin Germany from 26th-29th October 2021. While the focus will be on the in-person gathering at the amazing Humboldt Carré Conference Center in the heart of Berlin, there will be an online program that will include streaming of the key live sessions as well as special programming for online participants extended beyond the in-person conference hours.

The WFSF Conference is presented by our main partner PMU (Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University). The conference will combine plenary sessions, guest speakers, panels, workshops and experiential happenings, the presentation of scientific papers, as well as sponsor and exhibitor displays from across the globe.

The WFSF is a UNESCO and UN consultative partner and global NGO with members in over 60 countries. The conference reflects the values and vision of the WFSF, which brings together academics, researchers, practitioners, students and futuresfocused institutions to provide a forum for stimulation, exploration and exchange of ideas, visions, and plans for alternative futures, through longterm, big-picture thinking and radical change. The expansiveness of the WFSF universe is expressed through the conference theme: The Openness of Futures.

The theme reflects the broad dimensions and dynamics of futures studies and describes an arena in which we explore the expansiveness of our imagination – an open universe prepared to deal with the grand challenges of our time, beautifully articulated as desirable visions of sustainable progress and hope.

The Openness of Futures is an invitation to travel into a new era for futures, one in which you will be able to experiment with technology enhanced methods and teaching, transdisciplinary approaches to opportunity-based problem solving and new paradigms and concepts for global collaboration and societal development.

Those attending the WFSF 24th World Conference will enjoy the beauty and benefits of the Humboldt Carré facility with the program spread over 5 key areas, as well as a lounge for stimulating conversation, friendly debate, networking or simply contemplating the wisdom from the amazing keynotes, presentations, workshops or panels.

The five main rooms will be themed in a way that best expresses the inspiration for the program topics and the mode of delivery. Each room has been given a name that reflects its function and programming.

Starting with the 250+ seater Plenarium this area will primarily be used for plenary sessions, keynote speakers and top level presentations and panels.

The 80-seater Globalarium will provide the perfect platform for interactive presentations on the big challenges, planetary futures and topics such as the future of democracy, ethics and policy implications, and regional collaboration and sustainable development.

The Sensorium, which seats 40, will host presentations, panels, and scientific papers which will reflect the affective aspects of futures, living futures through sensory enhancement that connects us with imaginary worlds and unknown landscapes.

The Laboratorium provides a

playground and showcase for experiential and experimental futures, for progressive techniques, tools, and integration of emerging technologies into our field. It can house 40 participants and is a perfect space for creating the unthinkable.

Similarly, the aptly named Imaginarium, which has space for 40 attendees, will be designed to provoke and fire the imagination and artistry and will set the scene for creative futures through workshops, groupthink and inspirational, disruptive visions.

Other rooms including the Lounge and hallways will be used for networking, displays, catering and lively conversations.

While the program is still being finalized, we have already confirmed a number of topics and speakers. Topics include progressive arts and futures, Sci-Fi and futures, geopolitics, the future of democracy and political institutions, the futures of futures, participatory and distributed global futures, new methodologies and tools, serious games, multimedia, and transmedia approaches to scenario delivery, planetary futures, the future of education, future of sustainable design, corporate futures, the future of work, futures creativity, foresight vs. foresight-based programs for schools and universities, AI and Futures Studies and Futures Studies and AI, ethical futures and so much more. There will also be formal and informal regional and crossregional meetings as well as a gala dinner and plenty of opportunities and space for gatherings, networking, and debate.

The call for papers is still open with a closing date for abstracts of 10th August 2021, and for selected papers the date for final paper delivery is 30th September 2021.

Confirmed speakers include: n Erik F. Øverland, PhD: President and Chairman of the Board, World Futures Studies Federation; Senior Policy Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research

n Gabriela Ramos: Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO

n Dr. Issa H. al Ansari: President, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

n Bayo Akomolafe, PhD: International speaker, poet, curator and activist, The Emergence Network

n Dr. Stanza (Steve Tanza): International award-winning digital artist

n Dr. Karina Vissonova: Founder, ADES (Institute for Advanced Design Studies), Expert of design, sustainability and futures studies

n Dr. Roberto Poli: Full Professor - Philosophy of Science and Social Foresight, University of Trento, Italy; President, AFI: Association of Italian Futurists

n Riel Miller, PhD: Head of Futures Literacy, UNESCO

n Dr. Faisal Yousif al Anezi: Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU)

Check the Conference website for frequent updates on the progam and speakers and other news or subscribe to the conference newsletter. https:// wfsfconferenceberlin2021.org/

We would love to see you at the 24th WFSF World Conference in Berlin or online. You can register at https:// wfsfconferenceberlin2021.org/registration/ Early bird closes on 7th September 2021

This conference would not be possible without the support of our partners and sponsors including: PMU, APF, UNESCO, European Journal of Futures Research, IZT (Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment), Netzwerk Zukunftsforschung.

If you are interested in being a partner or sponsor, please use the Contact page on the website: https:// wfsfconferenceberlin2021.org/contact