Bob,
I thank you so much for the time and effort you've put into publishing
your notes from STIA. I was there, but find your notes very helpful to
remind me of some things I didn't remember, or didn't hear in the first
place (even if I was in the room -- you know how that is!)
I would like to share one comment with you about Karl-Henrik Robert's
presentation. I found the concept of backcasting very valuable. But it had
a component to it that enriches the description you gave us:
"They use "backcasting": define the goal, and work backwards
from it, rather than forecasting from today's trends"
I use a process called a "compelling future," in which I ask people to
move into the future and describe what it looks and feels like to be
living there, assuming they've reached their goal. This is very helpful to
turn the goal from a static image into a richly-described process; and to
work backwards from there.
What Karl-Henrik added to that that I found exciting is the idea that we
should imagine having reached that goal in consonance with our principles.
It is one thing for me to identify a goal state (i.e., "living on a green
planet"). It is another thing for me to know what it would look and feel
like if I got there, and was able to live there, with the help of my
principles.
Thanks again for your contribution!
Regards,
-- Marilyn Darling mdarling@warren.med.harvard.edu