Futures Literacy Laboratories – Experimenting with Tomorrow

 

When we think of laboratories, most of us imagine scientists in white coats experimenting with chemicals, formulas, or machines. But what if there were laboratories not for physics or biology, but for the future? That’s exactly what Futures Literacy Laboratories (FLLs) are: spaces where people come together to test, imagine, and explore possible futures.

What is a Futures Literacy Laboratory?

A Futures Literacy Laboratory is a structured workshop where participants practice “using the future.” Instead of trying to predict what will happen, an FLL invites people to surface hidden assumptions, imagine alternative futures, and then reflect on how those images shape choices in the present. It is less about producing one “correct” vision of tomorrow and more about cultivating the skill of futures literacy—the capacity to engage with uncertainty as a resource.

How does an FLL work?

Typically, an FLL unfolds in three phases:

1. Reveal assumptions – Participants first express their default images of the future, often without realizing how much these are shaped by culture, education, or media.
2. Explore alternatives – Through scenario building, storytelling, or creative exercises, they are exposed to radically different possible futures. These futures may feel strange, uncomfortable, or inspiring.
3. Reflect and reframe – Finally, participants step back and ask: What have we learned about our assumptions? How does seeing multiple futures change our understanding of the present?

This cycle helps people become more agile in dealing with complexity and surprise.

Why are they important?

Futures Literacy Laboratories matter because they democratize foresight. Instead of futures being imagined only by policymakers or corporations, FLLs bring ordinary citizens, students, activists, and communities into the process. They encourage participation, dialogue, and creativity, showing that everyone has a role in shaping tomorrow.

They also build resilience. By practicing scenarios—optimistic, pessimistic, and surprising—people learn not to fear uncertainty but to use it. For communities facing climate change, rapid technological shifts, or social transitions, this skill can be transformative.

Examples in practice

• In Africa, FLLs have been used to explore the future of higher education, helping universities rethink their role in a rapidly changing society.
• In Europe, communities have run FLLs on the future of migration, offering new perspectives beyond fear or crisis.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual FLLs allowed groups worldwide to reflect on health, trust, and social resilience in ways that traditional planning could not.

A tool for the 21st century

In a world marked by uncertainty, FLLs function like rehearsal spaces for possibility. They remind us that the future is not a straight line, but a landscape of choices. By learning how to navigate that landscape together, societies can build not only better strategies but also deeper trust, imagination, and inclusion.

Futures Literacy Laboratories are not about predicting what tomorrow will look like. They are about strengthening our imagination muscles today, so that we can respond to change with creativity rather than fear. In doing so, they transform the future from something we anxiously await into something we actively practice—together.