Trend Links

From designer crops to “nanomachines” check out this issue’s trend link to Battelle’s “Strategic Technologies for 2020.”  See what a team of “scientists and engineers at Battelle, a world renowned technology organization based in Columbus, Ohio, has compiled as a list of the ten most strategic technological trends that will shape business and our world over the next 20 years.”


Wondering about the next “big thing” in energy, environment, IT, materials and medicine?  Likely what and when forecasts are summarized from a panel of experts at the GW Forecast: George Washington University Forecast of Technology and Strategy.  The site is a treasure trove of ideas and thoughts on the future. To review the most recent forecasts go to http://www.gwforecast.gwu.edu/index.asp  and on the site map in the left column click   “Knowledge Base” then click “Latest Results.”

Where is science going? Futurist Joseph Coates lays out sixteen trends for science in this concise overview. Please note that you will need to read this article in Adobe® PDF format. This article  may be viewed, saved, and printed using Adobe's free Reader® (ver. 4 or later) or another PDF program. You may also enjoy other articles on this noted futurist's website .

While released in 2000, the often-cited Central Intelligence Agency Global Trends 2015: A Dialogue About the Future With Nongovernment Experts is a fascinating view of global drivers and trends over a fifteen year time frame. Now five years after release, this one continues to have some challenging insights.

Business futures? What's the next "new thing?" Find futures trends in business as found in many leading magazines as presented through Magportal.com

Futures Views 

Want a view of “front page news” in 2047 or what’s happening in 2018? Check out one view of our future as sketched by a group of  “scientists and experts whose ground-breaking work is already creating the new millennium.”  See the Chronicle of the Future at http://www.chronicle-future.co.uk/

It won't surprise you that change is accelerating. One wonders if there is a point when human intelligence is surpassed by machines. The "Singularity Watch" keeps track of accelerating change.  Thoughts on the speed of change to an estimated time for the "singularity" to occur can be reviewed on the site.

What will be the direction of  biomedical research and development activities? See what The Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF), a nonprofit research and educational organization, will be doing in The 2029 Project. IAF says "These are early days for genomics, proteomics, nanotechnology and bioinformatics. What might this research and development achieve over 25 years?"  Get a snapshot of where this work is headed .

Looking for a comprehensive view of 2025?  Futurists Joseph F. Coates, John B. Mahaffie, and Andy Hines book 2025: Scenarios of U.S. and Global Society Reshaped by Science and Technology.  "This penetrating look at the future offers 15 scenarios that will help you anticipate the dramatic effects of science and technology on the world to come." This book may be viewed, saved, and printed using Adobe's free Reader® (ver. 4 or later) or another PDF program. 

Other Links

General 
Paradigm Shifts, Driving Forces and Trends, Roger Caldwell, University of Arizona
Futurecast Online, Daniel Blatt  
Sources of Forecasts for Practitioners

Demography
WFS World Future Guide - Demography - Sample 
CensusScope:  A  Portal to Census 2000 Data CensusScope is an easy-to-use tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends, brought to you by the
Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) at the University of Michigan. Includes  graphics and exportable trend data, CensusScope is designed for generalists and specialists

Terrorism and Anti-terrorism
The Threats of Terrorism, World Future Society

Important Links

• Institute for the Future
• Other AACC Institutes & Programs