March 13, 2015, Friday - “How Futures Research Might Lead Us to a More Resilient Mississippi River” at McKnight Foundation

Time:  8:00am – 9:30am

Location: McKnight Foundation, 710 Second Street South, Suite 400

“How Futures Research Might Lead Us to a More Resilient Mississippi River”

Many of us consider our work to be in service of a “big-picture” better future for the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s natural resources. And yet…..How many emails await your attention right now? How many meetings do you have between now and next Wednesday? Though we may wish to contribute to a healthier long-term future for our beloved natural resources, many spend most of each day attending to short-term, immediate needs. Do we miss strategic and creative opportunities when we are scrambling to make it through each day’s to-do list, especially now that the pace of environmental change is so rapid? Futurists investigate how social, economic and technological developments are shaping the future—and apply anticipatory thinking to society’s greatest challenges. Might taking a “futurist” approach to our work help enrich environmental protection, planning and policy efforts?

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that will invite you to think far outside your daily routine. Presenter George Kubik is President of the Anticipatory Futures Group, LLC, a former Strategic Futurist and Assistant Regional Director for Strategic Planning with the U.S. Government, and is President of the Minnesota Chapter of the World Future Society. Light breakfast provided. Free.

RSVP to lark_weller@nps.gov. Please be prepared to sign in at McKnight's front desk and get a visitor pass.