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For more than 40 years, Futuribles
has been an independent non-profit center for prospective
studies and foresight. Its overall aim is to contribute
to a better understanding of the contemporary world.
By taking an interdisciplinary approach, Futuribles explores
current issues, the world’s possible futures (futurs
possibles), and policies and strategies to consider.
The Futuribles group carries out their work in several ways,
including studies, publications, training, and gathering data
and information from around the world.
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Recent
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 Rethinking the Biotechnologies
Repenser les biotechnologies
Daniel Thomas, André-Yves Portnoff
Futuribles, Perspectives, 112 pages, 2007
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 Open
Access to Knowledge
Libre accès aux savoirs
Francis André
Futuribles, Perspectives, 72 pages, 2005
If open-source software has shown the importance of skill
sharing, it is part of a broader issue: the progress of
thought, and therefore of science, depends primarily on
the freedom to communicate and exchange ideas. Thus the
importance of the international initiative in favour of
open access to scientific works that challenges a commercial
publishing
system where some publishers can claim a quasi-monopoly.
Francis André is a major player of this movement
of utmost importance for Southern countries and ultimately
for the overall global development of innovation.
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 Africa:
the Scientific Divide
Afrique : la fracture scientifique
Bonaventure Mvé-Ondo
Futuribles, Perspectives, 64 pages, 2005
It is the scientific divide, more serious than the digital,
that is marginalizing Africa. The continent will develop
when it constructs a new culture for itself, a culture
liberated both from certain archaic forms of behaviour
and from a posture of passive consumption of imported
technologies as in colonial days. The challenge facing
Africans is one of successfully internalizing scientific
thought by appropriating it in an original synthesis with
their cultural identity. The intangible conditions for
development identified in this work could also shed light
for other regions, including Europe, on the obstacles
that stand in their way.
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 Research
Foresight.
Agriculture, Food and the Environment
Prospective de la recherche.
Agriculture, alimentation, Environnement
Bertrand Hervieu, Hugues de Jouvenel
Futuribles, Perspectives, 88 pages, 2005
This work shows the usefulness of foresight studies when
applied to the development of a long-term strategy for
a research institute working in the field of agriculture,
food and the environment. It describes how the ambivalent
advances of science, and of the life sciences in particular,
can be reconciled with the requirements of sustainable
development.
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 Science
in Want of Culture
La science en mal de culture
Jean-Marc Lévy-Leblond
Futuribles, Perspectives, 72 pages, 2004
We cannot merely look to science for explanations and
applications today, without taking account of its implications
for society. The need for greater control of scientific
activity by the citizenry is frequently argued. That control
requires a wider dissemination of scientific and technical
culture. But the very existence of such a culture is in
doubt in an age when "know-how" has the upper
hand over knowledge. The immediate task before us is,
therefore, to "(re)culturate science".
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 An
Invitation to Foresight
Invitation à la prospective
Hugues de Jouvenel
Futuribles, Perspectives, 88 pages, 2004
Prospective is primarily a philosophy, an attitude, a
way of life, even. By rejecting the idea that the future
is predetermined, it invites us to look upon it as a land
to be explored — the reason for watching and anticipating
— and as a land to be built upon — the reason
for policy and strategy. This book is an invitation to
everyone to shape the future they want rather than suffer
the future they do not. It starts by presenting the basic
concepts and the philosophy underpinning them. It goes
on to explain the main steps in the procedure and the
methods that can be used for them.
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 Betting
on Intelligence.
Of Chips, Mice and Men
Le pari de l'intelligence.
Des puces des souris et des hommes
André-Yves Portnoff
Futuribles, Perspectives, 80 pages, 2004
Reinforcing the power of citizens and of general activity,
opening up all regions: the Internet contributes to this,
but it also favours hegemonies. Technical and organisational
choices conforming to our values must be made while opting
for open networks and still preserving private life. The
knowledge society doesn't make sense if we gag knowledge,
exposing ourselves to new Chernobyls. Let's exploit digitalisation
so that businesses and society really place a bet on intelligence.
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 Pathways
to Innovation
Sentiers d'innovation
André-Yves Portnoff
Futuribles, Perspectives, 64 pages, 2003
This book shows, with reference to many specific examples,
that innovation can foster economic growth, employment and
human development, but on two conditions. First, people must
be farsighted and bold enough to anticipate changes, perhaps
even to create them, rather than simply putting up with them.
Next, they must look beyond technology: innovating means rethinking
what firms do, their organizational methods and style of management.
In other words, technical and socio-organizational innovations
go hand-in-hand.
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These books are published in both English and French in order
to encourage a broader dialogue.
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