Education for World Futures Resources

This page provides free resources that are also used as content materials in the Integrated Human Studies courses available from this site.

As you explore and discuss the resources below, we encourage you to develop your own questions and understandings and to contact us to suggested additional resources for this site.

What is the big picture?
Responding to the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century requires an understanding of the big picture in terms of the past, present and future. A number of books provide an excellent overview of the 21st Century big picture and have informed the development of the main questions below.

Note the remaining resources below are under construction

Where did we come from?
Understanding the present and the possibilities for the future requires an understanding of the past.  The theory of evolution is generally accepted as the best explanation of the origins of the Earth and of humanity, while the big picture of human history is best understood in terms of the great technological and cultural transitions that have occurred . 

Where are we now?
What is the current situation for human beings and the planet Earth?  The resources below provide information about global and regional levels of wellbeing and sustainability, outline 21st century global challenges and emerging technologies, present different positions on controversial issues and address the question What does it mean to be human in the 21st century?

Where are we headed and where do we want to go?
Although it is not possible to predict the future, it is possible to suggest some of the different directions it could take on the basis of current paradigms (ways of thinking) and trends.  The resources below explore some of the likely scenarios and positive visions for the future.

What do we need to understand?
What do we need to understand in order to achieve the best possible future?  What do future citizens and leaders need to understand in order to act towards this outcome? 

How do we get there?
As well as understanding, achieving the best possible future for humanity and for the planet requires action.  The following resources explore various possibilities for positive human action.