We are all connected. With the generations ahead of us. With our family, friends and networks in the present. And with future generations: our children, grandchildren, etcetera. In everything we do here and now, we influence the well-being of future generations. While our societies are heavily focused on the short term and often seem to ignore the long term impact of our actions and decisions, we are creating a legacy that future generations cannot refuse.
The aim of the Lab Future Generations is to influence society in such a way that it will take the well-being of future generations into consideration. We do that by acting as an Ombudsperson for Future Generations who helps signal situations that put the well-being of future generations at risk.
Dr. Monk's role in the Lab Future Generations lies in research and campaigning. We have produced several of the Lab's outputs:
- The Future Thinking Toolkit, which consists of different methods that help us make sense of the future, sense opportunities and determine what we can do now to ensure the well-being of future generations. In this way we'll be able to properly advocate for future generations.
- The Salon for the Future, in which a diversity of awesome academic thinkers came together to explore differnet methods with which to bring the future to the present, and vice versa.
- The Quickscan and Campaign Video for the Water campaign, which sketched out the different dimensions of the importance of water for future generations and how these are under threat
- Currently, we are working on the new campaign around higher education as a tool for an inclusive society.