World Future Society
Clearinghouse
for ideas about the future
Why Study the
Future?
The world changes
so quickly it's hard to keep up. New inventions and
innovations alter the way we live. People's values,
attitudes, and beliefs are changing. And the pace of change
keeps accelerating, making it difficult to prepare for
tomorrow. By studying the future, people can better
anticipate what lies ahead. More importantly, they can
actively decide how they will live in the future, by making
choices today and realizing the consequences of their
decisions.
The future doesn't just happen:
People create it through their action -- or inaction --
today.
What Can We Know about the
Future?
No one knows exactly what will happen in the
future. But by considering what might happen, people can
more rationally decide on the sort of future that would be
most desirable and then work to achieve it.
Opportunity as well as danger lies ahead, so people need to
make farsighted decisions. The process of change is
inevitable; it's up to everyone to make sure that the change
is constructive.
What Is the World Future
Society?
The World Future Society is an association of
people interested in how social and technological
developments are shaping the future. The Society was founded
in 1966 and is chartered as a nonprofit educational and
scientific organization in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
What Does the Society Do?
The Society strives to serve as a neutral
clearinghouse for ideas about the future. Ideas about the
future include forecasts, recommendations, and alternative
scenarios. These ideas help people to anticipate what may
happen in the next 5, 10, or more years ahead. When people
can visualize a better future, then they can begin to create
it.
Who belongs to the Society?
Membership is open to anyone who would like to know more
about what the future will hold. The Society includes 25,000
people in more than 80 countries--from Argentina to
Zimbabwe. Members come from all walks of life. They include
sociologists, scientists, corporate planners, educators,
students, and retirees. They are thinking people who seek a
better future for themselves and society.
Local Chapters
The Society's program of local activities has
grown to include local groups of people in more than 100
cities who share the same interest in the future. Local
chapters give members a chance to meet other forward-looking
people and to discuss various topics of the future.
