Future Forecasting

The Next Generations

By Elizabeth Merritt

Eric Meade, on the Authentic Futures Blog, has forecast the coming generations. Applying Strauss and Howe’s theory of a cycle of four “types” of generations, Meade looks forward the next 50 years to forecast what he dubs the Globals …
The Near Future: What’s Up at CFM

By Elizabeth Merritt

Here is a glimpse of what is up at CFM in the next six months. I would love your input. Write me at futureofmuseums@aam-us.org with your ideas. This summer and fall we are working on the second CFM research report, Demographic …
Breaking Trail

By Elizabeth Merritt

This blog started last February—faced with its approaching six month anniversary I have been wrestling with the right balance of content. As I travel the country and cruise the web talking about CFM, asking how it can best serve the field, …
Materials of the Future Museum–Vote Now!

By Elizabeth Merritt

Classic scene: Ben Braddock is being grilled by Mrs. Robinson’s posse about what he is going to do with his future, his life when Mr. McGuire spirits him outside to the dark quiet by the suburban pool. “I just wanna say one word to …
Questioning Assumptions

By Elizabeth Merritt

Earlier this month I participated in a very interesting scenario planning exercise at the Smithsonian. The session was led by Peter Schwartz, a board member from the Long Now Foundation, an organization whose mission is “to creatively …
Killing Buddha

By Elizabeth Merritt

The Accreditation Commission is meeting this week here at the AAM offices in Washington, D.C. Each time I walk past the big glass walls of the board room I see the huge binders scattered across the conference table, and the long, long list …
Fiero! Museums as Happiness Engineers

By Jane McGonigal

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2009 edition of Museum magazine. The future is elusive—but it’s still a topic of ceaseless speculation. It has been a constant of human nature across time and cultures to want to know …