What the Lab is:
Students and young professionals from around the world* are coming to this year's Lab. They will be briefed by UN experts (from the UN Development Program, UN Environmental Program, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO and other UN agencies), develop comprehensive strategies for solving some of the world's most critical problems, and then present their work at the UN. They will learn a powerful strategic design and planning methodology that will be of use for the rest of their life, as well learn about leadership, problem solving and the design revolution. They will learn about global problems, options, technology, culture, resources and what they can do to make a difference. They will meet others with similar passions about the state of the world— and what we can do to make things better.
The Design Science Lab is where solutions to global and local problems are developed— by you. Read more
* Previous Lab participants have come from Spain, Mexico, France, Tanzania, Ghana, Haiti, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Lithuania, Sudan, Nepal, Turkey, Venezuela and all over the US.
Who it is for:
Students from college and high school as well as teachers and young professionals from around the world.
When:
June 13 - 21, 2010
Where:
Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA
What you will learn, do, and get:
You will learn a problem solving and planning methodology, developed by Buckminster Fuller and other scientists and designers, that will be of use to you the rest of your life
You will learn about critical global problems that impact the lives of everyone in the world, as well as the opportunities associated with these problems, and what we can do to change the current situation
You will work collaboratively with other participants from around the world on designing real world solutions to a critical real world problem
You will be briefed by United Nations staff and other experts on global problems and opportunities
You will present you work to a team of UN and other experts
Your work will be published as a book
You will receive a comprehensive digital collection of the latest reports from the UN and research organizations around the world on the state of the planet (over $1,000 worth of reports and studies on energy, climate change, the global economy, food, and many other topics).
You will work very hard and have fun doing it.
Skills Covered
Problem Solving
Design Science and Strategic Planning
Collaborative Research
Information Visualization
Project Management
Research
Public Speaking
Team Building
Leadership
Taking initiatives
Critical Path Scheduling
Fun under stress
Special Sessions
The State of the World 2010 and 2020
Globalization 101: Forces Shaping Our Future
Global Environmental Systems
Climate Change: What's Real?
Global Energy Systems
Global Food Systems
Global Water Situation
Youth Leadership
Strategic Design and Planning
Buckminster Fuller and Design Science
Global Problems/Local Solutions & Local Problems/Global Solutions
The United Nations and Global Well-being
Building Peace Through the Design Revolution
PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future