Futures Conferences Keynote Address A futurist presents his/her perspective of a particular aspect of our future. Listening to the speaker, the entire group gains insight into this futurist’s concepts, ideas, forecasts, and concerns. Each keynote presentation will be 60-90 minutes in length. Participants are encouraged to take notes for later use, including highlights, agreements, controversies, questions to ask, and other "keepers" from the presentation. Round Table A number of futurists gather around a round table, or in chairs arranged in a circle, to discuss the relationship between their perspectives. Participants are seated in a big circle around them, similar to theater in the round. Topics are participant-generated, with futurists exploring the differences in their views. In some cases, the futurists will agree wholeheartedly; in other cases, there may be some serious disagreement, pushing the futurists to explain their reason and defend their positions. Concurrent Sessions Futurists are in separate rooms at scheduled times. They present 45-minute mini-seminars in their areas of specialty as pre-determined by conference design. Sessions range from highly interactive to lecture followed by Q&A, depending on the presentation style of the futurist. Informal Sessions Each futurist is in an assigned room at the appointed time. Participants interested in talking with that particular resource person will go to that room. Question-answer mode stimulates open discussion, and some of the questions may be asked by the futurist! These sessions last about an hour. Several futurists conduct sessions concurrently. One-on-One Sessions Participants have opportunities for more intimate conversations with futurists. Our futurists participate in all meal and social functions, so they are be available and approachable. At meal functions, no more than one futurist is seated at each table. (An alternative design is for participants to sign up to eat with a futurist of their choice at meal functions.) We can also structure some "free" time with futurists seated separately in a large room. Participants can easily float from one conversation group to another. Panel Discussion Several futurists join together on the platform with an interviewer. The interviewer poses questions which are answered by one or more futurists. Questions may also be submitted from "the floor," in writing on 3X5 cards that will be taken to the interviewer. This session lasts 45-75 minutes.

[ About · Tools · Information · Future Insights · Main Page of the Herman Group ]