Towards more scientific futures research, Spring 2012 (3 cr)
Doctoral course offered by Finland Futures Academy (FFA)
Time and place
Lectures March the 22nd 2012 at 9–14. Address: Finland Futures Research Centre (Tulevaisuuden tutkimuskeskus), Turku office, Elektrocity, Tykistökatu 4 B, 7th floor (enter from Itäisen Pitkänkatu). Link to the map: http://www.eniro.fi/s/O6f
The course ends up April the 13th 2012, which is the dead line for the article as the main course performance.
Lecturer
Adjunct professor, PhD Osmo Kuusi, the special expert of the Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku
Language
Finnish and English. Lectures are given in English if there are non-Finnish participants.
Prerequisites
It is assumed that students know Wendell Bell's book: Foundations of futures studies human science for a new era, Bell, Wendell (1998), 1-56000-281-6 (either Futures 2 -course, Futures Studies Research Methods or respective knowledge).
Aims and contents
Wendell Bell’s book Foundations of Futures Studies (1997) provides excellent starting points for the scientific futures research. It is internationally accepted as the basic book that provides scientific starting points for the futures studies. The special importance of Bell to the community of futurists was indicated by the special issue of Futures dedicated to Wendell Bell (Futures 43/2011).
The main content is composed of philosophical, methodological and pragmatic starting points of the scientific futures research. The focus is on proceeding on the lines laid down by Wendell Bell towards more scientific futures research.
Learning
The course consists of a one-day lecture session, books and articles. Performing the course requires that a participant makes an article that discusses some basic problems of the scientific futures research by referring to the course material and lectures.
Mode of assessment
The content of the article should be based on the themes discussed during the course including futures research as one of the main approaches. Examples: 1) Is Critical realism working basic philosophy of the Futures research? 2) Futures research and skepticism 3) Different interpretations of time in the Futures research 4) The empirical basis of the Futures research 5) Cognitive sciences and Futures research.
Registration
By email before March 20th 2012 to Education secretary Sari Miettinen, sari.miettinen[at]utu.fi The email should include following information: name, university, student number, main subject, status. Note! The amount of participants may be limited by the course organiser.
More information on course: Coordinator Sari Söderlund, sari.soderlund[at]utu.fi