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TIAS Experts Workshop
Building Bridges from the Present to Desired Futures:
Evaluating Approaches for Visioning and Backcasting
Co-sponsored by
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
and Central European University
Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy
Central European University
Budapest, Hungary
21 - 22 March, 2011
Workshop Purpose
The workshop, Building Bridges from the Present to Desired Futures: Evaluating Approaches for Visioning and Backcasting is intended to further the TIAS study comparing visioning/scenario exercises and projects that have used or are using backcasting. The study team will use the workshop to validate results of the survey and literature review, and learn more from those who have used backcasting extensively to support environmental management and sustainable development. Specifically, the focus is on the effectiveness of various approaches - what works and what does not - in particular situations and for particular sectors such as low-carbon futures and energy systems, land use change and food security.
Among the specific questions to be addressed are the following:
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What approaches and methods have been applied in backcasting studies?
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What are the important steps involved in developing an effective backcasting process?
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What is meant by rigour in backcasting?
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How can a more formal backcasting process complement visioning and forward-looking scenario-building exercises?
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Are certain themes better suited to backcasting than others?
Workshop and Study Results
The results of this comparison serves to inform both the scientific and policy sectors. For example, it will help to familiarize potential users with the idea of backcasting as a tool for strategic discourse. It will illustrate on the basis of real examples the vtial role that backcasting can play as a planning tool. The results of the workshop together with the study as whole will form the basis of a guidance document that supports future efforts to undertake backcasting studies. This document will be supported and supplemented by a webinar series and journal article.
Workshop Programme
Start: 13:00 Monday 21 March
Finish: 17:00 Tuesday 22 March
Workshop Agenda
When planning your trip it may interest you to know that the TIAS
meeting is being run back-to-back with the "SCENES Final Conference and
workshop on Future Waters for Europe" on March 23-25 also at CEU in
Budapest. For more information visit the
conference site
(despite dates indicated on their website, it will take place
23rd-25th). Since this is a separate event, this would be at the
partcipants' own expense.
Abstract Requested
Participants are asked to submit a short abstract in advance that outlines how the study they have been involved in, contributes to the questions being addressed in this review.
Presentations
Participants are asked to submit a short abstract in advance that outlines how the study they have been involved in, contributes to the questions being addressed in this review.
Participants will present their experiences in a 5-minute presentation: Questions that may guide the presentations from participants include:
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Describe how backcasting has been used in your project?
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What has worked well in this backcasting process?
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What have you been struggling with?
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What recommendations do you have for other backcasting exercises based upon your experience?
There will be time to elaborate on these questions in break out groups.
In addition, the case studies that have been reviewed by the study team will be presented at the outset of theworkshop.
Venue
The workshop is hosted at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy and will be held at the campus of Central European University.
Workshop location: Central European University: Popper room, Monument
Building, Nadur U.9.
Building Map
Getting around Budapest
General information on CEU
Hotels
A group reservation has been made at
Hotel Central Basilica which is
a 5 minute walk from the venue (Monument Building CEU)
Address:
Hotel Central Basilica
Hercegprímás utca 8.
1051.Budapest
Phone:+36 1 328-5014
Fax:+36 1 328-5019
Hotel location map
Hotel-Airport Shuttle Service
Participants are asked to inform Jeanette Haenseroth of arrival and departure dates.
Arrival Information
Co-sponsors
The Integrated Assessment Society gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship of the
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and
Central European University.
Links
Technological Forecasting
and Social Change (Damien Giurco).
Presentations
Note: These documents are password protected.
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Abstracts of participants [785 kB]
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Workshop meeting minutes [810 kB]
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Guide to Navigating the T21 China Model Version 4 (Qu) [1.7 MB]
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Tool for Backcasting — Threshold 21 Model (Qu & Shilling) [50 kB]
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