Mind the future

The compendium Mind the Future summarizes the most important developments in the fields of economics, demographics, sociology, technology, politics, ecology, and social modeling on practical flashcards. In each of these seven areas, ten relevant contemporary developments are identified and their possible evolution analyzed. Each resulting trend for the future is succinctly presented on one of the 70 included cards that are supplemented with insightful information graphics and appealing illustrations. Mind the Future features both established and innovative perspectives on our world. The compendium is aimed at anyone who wants to find out more about today’s key developments and their possible effects on the future. It offers all interested readers food for thought and inspiration, but also serves as a valuable tool for those who are grappling with these subjects in their professional or academic projects. Because the flashcards are loosely collected in a box, Mind the Future also reflects the fact that we can only formulate hypotheses about the future and will need to revise our assumptions as time goes by. This project was created by Stephan Sigrist, Burkhard Varnholt, Simone Achermann, and Gerd Folkers of W. I. R. E. Web for Interdisciplinary Research & Expertise. This independent think tank is affiliated with the Collegium Helveticum of the ETH (Federal Technical University) and the University of Zurich. W. I. R. E. researches global developments in trade and industry, society, and the life sciences and enjoys the support of an international board of experts, pioneering thinkers, and decision makers.